simran

It's interesting that they'd put two of those big bobbins in this flatbed. There must be a whole fistful of hardware under the table of one of those things. I'd love to see one.

Well that's a relief!

I'm not completely familiar with this machine but most double needle machines have smaller bobbins. Simply a result of having two of them rather than one. However, if it is a good enough buy it may be worth it. That being said, if it is that reasonably priced you could use it until you sell it and use the proceeds to buy what you really would like to have.

Depending on how they're set up; I've seen them used on more than one occasion for boat tarp repair & awning construction.

I just bookmarked the page. Can't wait to take the virtual tour. Nice job so far Wiz!!

It wouldn't take much to get me toe sell this machine. I don't particularly need a soling machine; although it stitches pretty good. It needs some fine tuning is all. Interesting thing about this machine is it had a wax pot on it that has a gas burner under it. If you look in the pictures it is the pot behind the bobbin winder. The hand crank bobbin winder & this gas powered wax pot are connected to the same bracket. You can see it pretty well in the2nd, 3rd & 4th pictures above. I'll have to flip the winder upside down & get a pic. of that burner so you'se can see it.

OK, I went after that sole stitcher It has quite a history surrounding it. The old boy I got it from is a WWII vet going into assisted living. 30 some odd years ago he got it from a farmer that had the head in the grainery and the treadle stand he rescued off the rock pile out by the field. The table top was de-laminated pretty badly so he used it as a pattern to make a new one from plywood. The old boy that had it in his grainery said it was his Grandpa's. His grandpa used it to repair harness tugs for himself and the neighbors in the area west of Fargo, ND. That had to be a few years ago. The story bears true as there is a modified flat plate and foot in a bag of trinkets that came with it; along with the original tapered plate and sole foot on the machine. You can't see it in the pics but the feed dogs are tapered to the left; apparently to keep the shoe or boot from feeding into the needle. This arrangement makes it very difficult to stitch in a straight line with this machine. The manual bobbin winder is interesting. Anyway here are a few pics.

Bob, The Management here says you're naughty. Anyway I got on my knee's and said :begging:and the management buckled!! I'm going after it tomorrow.

The management would kill me!! She's just looked over my shoulder & grabbed me by the ear!!!

nice machine: congrats. Have fun being creative.

This is a beautiful machine there is no doubt. But as big as it is and as far away from home as it is and the fact that it only stitches 1/4" length stitches; I simply can't use it. I only get home every two weeks; I simply don't want to drive the 125 miles just to pick up a table connected to a piece of junk I'll have to separate & throw away.

Are the needles still available for it? Can round work be done on it other than doing soles or is it job specific? It's funny; I did boot & shoe work for quite a few years & never heard of it until now. A shoe soling machine that isn't a needle and awl machine is a little different too. I wonder how much success Singer had with that idea? I can pick this thing up complete with treadle table & all for 1 bill. I'm just wondering if it would be a $100 boat anchor or if it will work OK for some hobby round work. I need something inexpensive to sew leather bottoms in my canvas packs. I've been doing it on a flat bed but it's a bit tricky. The seam would come out more professional looking on a cylinder-arm.

I know the 45K69 is a cylinder arm machine. What I can't find is any info on specifications or specific uses of this machine. Thanks,

That's an interesting idea!

Seem like I've heard that number before. It may be a K model made in Scotland. Could be wrong!

DenverLeather, I think most anyone you'll talk to will recommend a stand. A stand allows the operator to stand and maneuver odd sized objects like saddles, collars & odd shaped bags or luggage around under the needle. It's harder to do sitting at a table. That's just me! All you really need to do is figure out what type of work you'll be doing.

Looks nearly factory!! Nice job / Knut

Darrens got `er pegged pretty solid here. These things are a beast of a flat bed that will sew through nearly anything FLAT. Not scooped and very gradual or square flat corners. I think the foot is 1-3/4 " long; unmodified it must cover 3/4" material as it passes under the foot. That said, if it is heavy flat work you are doing it is the right machine. However, if you are building anything with a scoop or delicate corners you'll need another machine for that. Predominantly these are used today for sewing nylon strapping material, multiple layers of heavy canvas or leather depending on how they are set up. I see no reference to a 7-3. Not even in the double needle variety. My guess is you didn't get all the digits off the number plate. There are a lot of them designated 7-3X. Like 7-33, 7-34, etc. they all had there different uses. Here is a pic of mine in the process of being set up. Set up like you see it here it was sewing through the Sunday Tribune paper doubled over; ads and all without breathing hard. I'm going to use this one for sewing canvas & leather together in thick, flat work I'm doing.

Well: it's a different angle isn't it!

That's a dang nice stand in anyone's book oldtimer. It is functional, stout & pretty to boot. Like Madmaxx22 just said if you got the time & tools yea . . . do it. However, 300 smackers for a bought & paid for stand isn't bad either. I've seen them made of wood too; that looked pretty good. They are inexpensive but take a few hours to build. Just depends on your circumstances I suppose. Sim

What ever direction your headed you better take a sewing machine with you. I tried this once and I couldn't leave it alone. I can't imagine anybody being successful at heading another direction and not ending up with sewing machines at some point again. Good Luck, Sim

With the exception of the Sailrite all I seen were house machines on this site with pics. artistically take to make them look larger than life. You might be able to sew a zipper in a motorcycle jacket with one of those but you'll probably be cussing before you're through. I've got a Thompson Mini-walker; which is the same act as a Sailrite basically. With a few differences. It will sew zippers in leather jackets all day long. However, I bent a lever on it trying to sew through 4 layers of kid skin & 2 layers of thick canvas. The problem with these light machines is that they will sew just enough to think your doing something; then you come to the end of a zipper where things are doubled or worse or need to fold over a pocket lid & you end up with multiple layers of material. That's when the fun starts. Things can turn south in a hurry. Notice I never even mentioned holsters. They're a whole nuther ball game as wiz so eloquently pointed out.

Been awhile since I ran one of these but I found the info. on the Cambell/Bosworth web site. Looks like the #6 awl/needle is rated for 346 in synthetic thread or natural 6 cord. Here is are links with a little information you may find interesting. http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/articles/Point-Part1.pdf http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/articles/Point-Part2.pdf

I've seen a Chinese knock-off of the 441 on ebay for around $600 new. Now granted I know nothing of these machines; there may be other s here that do know. Maybe they will chime in. I'm not sure they are worth the $600! Also, I've seen Servo motors on ebay for around $150. Maybe one can be bought for less elsewhere; not sure. If you are a little creative and handy with your hands you could built a table out of plywood & 2X4's and join the two together and get in under your mark. The generic GA5-1 I've seen on Ebay looks just like the one Techsew sells but looks can be deceiving especially in the sewing machine dept. It would be nice if someone that has bought one of these Chinese knock-off's would chime in with a review of these machines. If you could save up another $5xx and take a good hard look @ the Techsew You may be happier because of the service you'd get. Especially if you are a beginner. Older machines can be bought for a song if you can wait . . . .& . . . .wait . . . .& well you know the drill. But then you are taking a chance on getting a machine that needs tinkering. I'm the kind that can wait til the dog goes to sleep to steal his bone. If he doesn't go to sleep I wait . . .until he either eats the bone or goes to sleep. Not everyone is up to that. I do know that "he that gets in a hurry pays to much." Things to consider.

I used Marvel Mystery oil on the one I had; but not sure it matters all that much. Those things are built like a tank. BTW they make one of the most beautiful stitches I've ever seen. I used mine for sewing side seams on western boots & some tack repair. If you don't need a deep throat stitcher you can't beat these machines. Post some pics if you get a chance. Good Luck.