machinehead

John, In the instruction manual you can see that this machine has three pair of gears that are used to set three different stitch lengths. The least per inch is twelve up to 32 stitches per inch , depending on which three sets are present in the machine that you are looking at. Something to check out before you decide whether to buy or not. With the continuous wheel feed this machine feeds well.

I saw in the PowerPoint link that the 401 Double Lock Stitch is also used for decorative stitching on belts.

http://www.webpages.ttu.edu/shwang/ADM4307/ADM%204307%20wk7/Stitches%20&%20Seams%20Analysis%20%28Ch14%29.pdf

Big Sioux, Yeah, Bag Closers aren't of much use except pull the thread and dump the contents. As you said there are a lot of Union Special machines and I believe the one Constabulary has stitches the 401 double locked chain stitch. There is an interesting comparison between it and the lockstitch here... http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/nbstechnologic/nbstechnologicpaperT96.pdf and a nice Power Point presentation on various stitches here...http://www.webpages.ttu.edu/shwang/ADM4307/ADM%204307%20wk7/Stitches%20&%20Seams%20Analysis%20%28Ch14%29.pdf Evo, Fabricating the orthotics is very fulfilling but I had to get out of it because years of dust and fumes were taking their toll. I might be getting back into it soon on a different and much healthier level.

I have a very small amount of shoe making experience, but mostly my footwear experience is in the fabrication of foot orthotics with the related shoe modifications and repair. I have a few industrial machines and have been interested in them for several years.

You can get a good skiving knife from Lisa at " It's a Boot Life". She has a banner ad at the top of this forum and the link will take you to her Youtube channel where you will see a link to her website. The price is reasonable and since she uses them on her extremely high quality bespoke boots, I doubt you will go wrong.

http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/SIL/0009/

Probably for shoes.

Google Hugo Hengstenberg of Bielefeld and maybe you will be on the right path to discovering the origin of this fine old machine.

Gordond, The Jones company had a rivalry with the Bradbury firm, and your machine just might use a Bradbury A-1 shuttle which is smaller than a Singer. The Bradbury shuttles have a tendancy to develop hairline cracks so a close inspection is warranted. Adding to the list of shoe patchers: the Bradbury Type 2 Elastic which has a larger shuttle than the A-1 Repairer and only revolved through a half circle instead of 360 degrees. It was designed for boots. Another patcher is the " We Cheer" probably manufactured in Providence Rhode Island. It looks a lot like a Singer if my memory serves me and may have utilized a patent involving the shuttle, rack, and or the gears. Have to edit the previous post. The machine's actual name is the " What Cheer".

Congrats on an interesting find. I enjoy seeing these old dinosaurs still stitching. Hopefully you will get it sewing like a champ and with a little practice you may really enjoy treadling the beast. Even though it probably takes only 92 thread at best, as a cylinder arm it may become a valuable go to machine in your work. Maybe kinda like a patch machine... you might not use it often, but for certain things its there. Sometimes when you already have the machine your work changes course a bit to incorporate its use.

Hmmm... I wonder if Singer thought it was misleading when it affixed the decal on the back of my 153 K 103 with the W prefix serial number stating " Made in Great Britain"? I agree with Gump's opinion of the machine.

The W before the serial number refers to the time frame it was made and since the records for the W prefix were lost there isn't a way of knowing exactly when it was manufactured.

The K designates that the machine was manufactured at the Kilbowie Clydebank Scotland Singer factory, and the W designates a machine manufactured at the old Wheeler Wilson factory in Bridgeport , Connecticut that Singer bought out in 1905.

Have you tried changing out the needle making sure it is lined up perfectly? Maybe your top tension is too tight? Is the thread getting caught or wrapped around something? What size needle and thread are you using?

Wiz, Thank you for posting this excellent treatise.

Are you seeing the needle hit the feed dog when you turn the machine over by hand or hearing it? Is the needle deflecting as it descends? Is it any different since you moved the plate / dog?

The feed dog and needle plate numbers on your machine are a matched set. The numbers are originally Singer designations but should be compatible for your 255. Most are interchangeable. Maybe someone more up on Singer / Consew parts can say for sure. One word of caution for purchasing parts from the bay.... quality varies widely. I have purchased parts that all needed to be reworked to fit. I would hope that the dealers here on the forum would carry quality parts so as to maintain a good reputation.

O.K. looking at your photo it looks like either the feed dog or needle plate is crooked. Photos can be deceiving though so can you take a look at that? Sometimes oily crud gets behind the dog. Have you had it off yet?

Refer to the online manual link that that was provided in an earlier response. In the contents see number 9 and scroll down for the instructions. Good luck.

Constabulary, Your bobbin chart is on the Thread Exchange website. Great place to explore.

Normally you will need a 216 x 2 or possibly a 216 x 3 needle to get the leather point. Did you get a Singer 132k by chance? These needles are maybe more available to you than they are here in the States but the dealers that have banner ads across the top of the forum may be able to help.

David I once saw a Singer 153 K 103 listed on the bay with a pick up only no shipping deal. Well now it was only 12 miles away so I bid and won it for $250.00. It had a huge three phase motor hanging under the table but it also included a brand new 110/220 clutch motor. I think the only thing that I have done to it is replace the feed dog. It uses common feet which I already had. I have had a couple 201 machines around but never did and never will pay 200 let alone 400 for one. The last one I got for $40 and it had new power and pedal cords as well as new internal wiring and was sitting in a cabinet. It certainly helps to have experience with industrial machines before purchasing one just here there or anywhere. An alternative is to find a reputable dealer as has been suggested and let them do their magic. Their knowledge is invaluable and who knows they may be able to help you out.

Joe, you are a quick study. Well done Grasshopper.

You are entirely welcome. They are good folks and are the fourth or fifth generation to run the family business which started in 1908 so they do know a thing or two about it.