BLW

I WAS RECENTLY GIVEN A VINTAGE SINGER 78-1 WALKING FOOT INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINE BY A FRIEND WHO HAD IT IN A MID-SOUTH FLORIDA OUTDOOR STORAGE SHED NOT TOO FAR FROM THE GULF. NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN SUPERFICIALLY RUSTY. HOWEVER, I'VE STOPPED ALL OF THAT WITH A VERY GOOD CLEANING WITH LIQUID WRENCH, GREEN PADS, CUE TIPS AND STEEL WOOL. THERE WERE ONLY 3 EDITIONS OF THE 78 CLASS MACHINES...78-1, 78-2, 78-3. YOU CAN LOOK UP BOTH THE USER AND PARTS MANUALS ON THE SINGER WEBSITE: PARTS,SINGERCO.COM TO LEARN ALL ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS DESIGNED TO SEW. I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHE HAS A 7/32" CORDING/WELTING FOOT SET IN HER NOW. THERE IS NO BOTTOM FEED ON THIS MACHINE, BUT SHE MOVED ALONG VERY WELL THE 10 OUNCE VEG TAN LEATHER AND PUNCHED THROUGH IT EASILY WITH THE ONE NEEDLE I HAVE FOR HER. I'M LOOKING FOR A PLAIN SEWING FOOT SET: OUTER PART #: 36253 INNER WITH 2 TEETH, PART #: 37326 THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AT LEAST THE FIRST TWO OF THE THREE 16 CLASS NEEDLES ARE STILL BEING MADE: 16X99 (CLOTH), 16X100 (LEATHER), 16X198 (AUTO TOPS). I DO KNOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE WAS USED EXTENSIVELY IN A BOAT YARD FOR REPAIRING SAILS AND UPHOLSTERY. I HAVE ORDERED 100 16X100 LEATHER NEEDLES FROM CUTEX MILL. ALSO, I HAVE A REPLACEMENT UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER TAKE UP SPRING COMING. THE ONE IN THE MACHINE WAS BROKEN OFF. SHE IS A VERY SIMPLE AND VERY TOUGH MACHINE. FOR ONE THING, SHE HAS A SIMILAR BUT MUCH STRONGER OSCILLATING HOOK SYSTEM SIMILAR TO A 31-15 ALTHOUGH SHE USES THE SAME BOBBIN CASE AND BOBBINS AS A 31-15. THERE IS A DEDICATED BOBBIN CASE FOR 78 CLASS MACHINES. THE STITCH LENGTH ADJUSTER IS JUST BEHIND THE UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER AND SHE CAN MAKE SOME VERY LONG STITCHES...LIKE 2-3 PER INCH...PROBABLY UP TO 7-8 PER INCH...CAN'T REALLY TEST HER SEWING STITCH RANGE UNTIL I GET THE SPRING. SHE HAS HER HINGE HOOKS, AND COULD DROP RIGHT INTO AN INDUSTRIAL POWER STAND. IF YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF CORDING OR BINDING, SHE MIGHT BE A GOOD MACHINE FOR YOUR SHOP... HER SERIAL NUMBER IS G7253229. THIS MAKES HER ONE OF ONLY 300 MACHINES THAT LEFT THE ELIZABETH, NJ FACTORY ON 8/5/1919. INTERESTINGLY, ONLY 200 WERE PRODUCED ON 1/29/1915 AND ANOTHER 500 ON 1/6/1920. SHE WAS DEFINITELY A SPECIAL PURPOSE SEWING MACHINE AND THESE PRODUCTION RUNS PROVE SHE IS PROBABLY NOW VERY RARE REGARDLESS OF BEING DECIDEDLY OBSOLETE. ANOTHER INTERESTING FEATURE IS THAT THERE IS NO INTERNAL DRIVE BELT OR GEARING BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER SHAFT TO DRIVE THE HOOK. INSTEAD, SHE HAS A SIMPLE INTERNAL CRANK DRIVE....VERY EASY TO LUBRICATE. IF YOU'RE AT ALL INTERESTED IN THIS MACHINE AND YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE RALEIGH, NC VICINITY IT WILL COST YOU AT LEAST $75 FOR PACKING AND SHIPPING TO THE LOWER 48 STATES. SHE IS A VERY HEAVY MACHINE. MY ASKING PRICE FOR THE MACHINE IS $250 PLUS THE SHIPPING. BUT, THERE IS SOME WIGGLE ROOM ON THE ASKING PRICE. THANKS FOR READING AND LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS...IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE PIX, LET ME KNOW...BTW, THE KNEE LIFTER MECHANISM ON THE HEAD IS ALL PRESENT AND WORKING FINE...RIGHT DOWN TO THE LITTLE RETURN SPRING UNDER THE BED. THE PAINT ON THE BED IS GOING TO NEED A COMPLETE REHAB FOR SURE...IF I DON'T SELL HER FAST, I WILL DO THIS JOB MYSELF. i HAVE A POWER STAND TO TEST HER WHEN I GET THE TAKE UP SPRING AND I MIGHT MAKE A YOUTUBE VIDEO WITH HER WHEN I HAVE HER ALL REDONE. THANKS FOR READING AND LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS... BOB MARSHALL EM: BOBSLEATHERWORKS@AOL.COM WEBSITE: BOBSLEATHERWORKS.COM 919.889.7894

HELLO EVERYONE, I WAS RECENTLY GIVEN A SINGER 78-1 BY A FRIEND WHO HAD IT IN AN OUTDOOR IN MID-SOUTH FLORIDA STORAGE SHED NEAR THE GULF FOR A LOOOONG TIME. I JUST GOT THE HEAD WITH THE HINGE HOOKS STILL IN PLACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS GENERALLY RUSTY BUT SALVAGEABLE. I'VE JUST FINISHED A FIRST CLEANING WITH LIQUID WRENCH, GREEN PADS AND STEEL WOOL TO ELIMINATE AND STOP THE SURFACE RUSTING. I HAVE HER OILED AND INSIDE NOW, AND I'M WAITING FOR CUTEX MILL TO SEND ME A REPLACEMENT TAKEUP SPRING FOR THE UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER. THE ONE IN THE MACHINE WAS BROKEN OFF AND THAT'S ALL I COULD FIND WRONG WITH HER. SHE HAS A 7/32" CORDING FOOT SET ON HER NOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET A PLAIN STITCHING SET FOR HER...ALTHOUGH I DON'T REALLY INTEND TO KEEP HER. THE SINGER PART NUMBERS FOR THE PLAIN STITCHING SET ARE 36253 FOR THE OUTER FOOT, AND THE INNER FOOT IS 37326 WITH 2 TEETH FOR MOVING THE GOODS ALONG. THIS MACHINE DOES NOT HAVE A LOWER FEEDING SYSTEM, BUT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT STILL WORKED FINE FOR MEDIUM WORK. I DO KNOW THIS MACHINE WAS USED EXTENSIVELY FOR SAIL REPAIR IN A BOAT YARD AND WAS ALSO USED IN AUTOMOBILE SHOP FOR UPHOLSTERY WORK...PRINCIPALLY FOR BINDING/PIPING WORK. SHE HAS A BEEFY HAND WHEEL AND IS MOVING FREELY. NEEDLES ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR HER AND I JUST ORDERED 1OO 16X100 LEATHER NEEDLES TO HAVE TO TEST HER. THE VEG TAN LEATHER ON THE BED IS ABOUT 10 OUNCES THICK AND SHE MOVED IT ALONG FINE AND EASILY PUNCHED THROUGH IT JUST BY ROLLING THE HAND WHEEL...SHE HAS VERY GOOD PUNCHING POWER. I HAVE ALL THE MACHINES I NEED FOR MY GUN BELT AND KNIFE SHEATH WORK, SO I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO PART WITH HER FOR A NOMINAL PRICE PLUS SHIPPING TO THE LOWER 48. OF COURSE, SHE WILL NEED A COMPLETE POWER STAND OR CAN BE DROPPED INTO A STAND YOU ALREADY HAVE. I WILL LIST HER IN THE MACHINES FOR SALE FORUM, BUT I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE GOOD WAY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS OTHERWISE LIMITED PRODUCTION AND PROBABLY NOW VERY RARE MACHINE. YOU CAN'T READ THE SERIAL NUMBER IN THE PICTURES...IT IS G7253229. THIS MAKES HER ONE OF ONLY 300 THAT LEFT THE ELIZABETH, NJ FACTORY ON 8/5/1919. INTERESTINGLY, I NOTED THAT 200 WENT OUT EARLIER ON 1/29/15 AND ANOTHER 500 WENT OUT ON 1/6/20. YOU CAN LOOK UP BOTH THE USER AND PARTS MANUALS ON THE SINGER WEBSITE: PARTS.SINGERCO.COM TO READ ABOUT THE ONLY 3 GENERATIONS OF THIS MACHINE AND WHAT SHE WAS DESIGNED TO SEW. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE STITCH LENGTH ADJUSTER IS ON THE FRONT OF THE MACHINE BEHIND THE UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER...SHE CAN DO SOME VERY LONG STITCHES...LIKE 2/3 PER INCH. ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT IS THAT SHE HAS A SIMILAR BUT MUCH STRONGER BUILT OSCILLATING HOOK SYSTEM SIMILAR TO A 31-15. SHE USES CLASS 15 BOBBINS AND THE SAME BOBBIN CASE...ALTHOUGH THERE IS A DEDICATED BOBBIN CASE WITH AN ADDED SLOT AND THERE IS ONE IN THIS MACHINE. ALSO, SHE IS A CRANK DRIVEN MACHINE INSIDE...THERE IS NO INTERNAL DRIVE BELT LIKE 111W CLASS MACHINES, SO THE BOTTOM IS WIDE OPEN AND EASY TO LUBRICATE. IF YOU'RE AT ALL INTERESTED IN THIS MACHINE AND WANT MORE PICTURES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT BOBSLEATHERWORKS@AOL.COM. THANKS!

Hi Bob, Thanks for your kind words...in fact, just today I got my first unsolicited email testimonial from one of my buyers thanking me for making it possible to use their 95-1 again. The machine has been in their family for over 50 years. Most of the belts have gone to east coast buyers because that's where the sewing machine factories were, but I've sold over 10 belts to Puerto Rico...one woman there called to thank me for getting her grandma's machine running again. Its been a great experience so far giving new life to the 95-1. I'm still trying to figure out why Singer's engineers designed the 95-1 and 96-1 with these belts...it may very well have been a cost decision if they thought it would save them $$$ instead of using a gear system. After all, it's fairly obvious that in the early 1900's they already knew how to run a rotary sewing hook with a reversing gear system. They even had to put a slot in the case to make it possible to replace a belt when it failed. You may be right about the complaints regarding the probability that the belts failed too often making for maintenance complaints from the sewing companies. As we know, these machines ran 24/7 in VERY HOT factories...especially during the war years. The 95-10's and 96-10's solved the problem with the belts. I just picked up a 1937 96-107 in great condition with the dual ball bearing guided upper main shaft....great machine! Bob

Hello DarkKnightGC, With all due respect...I'll be a little more expansive but equally as direct as Bob Kovar @ Toledo Industrial Sewing Machine...you have a special purpose early design walking foot sewing machine. I have had 2 or them and sold both only because it was always a tricky machine to keep in time even when I knew how to use and time it...the last one I had needed a new hook, but didn't replace it only because I wasn't using it much anyway. It sold FAST on Ebay. Please trust us when we tell you that this machine was designed to sew at high speed in light leathers and other not-too-dense materials with thread no thicker than bonded nylon 69. Also, even through it is a true walking foot machine, it feeding system is somewhat "refined" as it was designed to move along the material it was designed to sew, especially the narrow, lever-like feed dog. This feed dog has to be very sharp, and if yours is worn down, it may be hard for you to find a replacement. I looked for one with no success. If you do not have the user manual, you can download it for free on the Singer website. Go to parts.singerco.com and search for the user manual. You will find the information for the intended uses for this machine along with its rated 3000 stitches per inch. It is in fact a high speed factory garment designed to be one of many machines in the production of fine garments such as gloves and attaching collars and cuffs. The machine cannot be modified to do anything else, especially since it is has a short stroke stitch using 135x1 needles. Even a longer needle stroke walking foot machine using 135x17 needles like a 111W155 is still designed to use 69 thread but a 111W155 has MUCH MORE PUNCHING POWER than your 151w1....it is punching power that gets your sewing machine's needle cleanly through vegetable tanned leather for making holsters with no more than a 1/4" thickness when the machine's maximum lift is 3/8". If your 151w1 is timed correctly and the hook is sharp, the most dense material it will sew is cowhide suede that fits comfortably under the presser foot. If you want to pound through vegetable tanned leather with 135x17 needles, you will need at least a higher lift (5/16") flat bed walking foot machine like a Consew 206RB-1 or any of the same model with newer/higher end numbers. I have a 206RB-1 and its basically a monster...made in Japan in the 60's and will chew through 1/4" thick vegetable tanned leather with 138 thread using 135x17 #22 needles....and, it is still supposed to be an upholstery machine. Juki LU-562 and the LU-563 are similar machines. A heavy leather sewing machine...usually cylinder arm machines... use 794 class needles...like the Cobras or Artisans....I have an Artisan 3000 with a 3/4" lift for stitching holsters and gun belts. I suggest you watch lots of Youtube videos to get a good feel for leather sewing machines and tweek out your 151W1 for whatever it will allow you to sew on it. But always remember two of my similar sewing machine rules: 1. "You will never win a fight with a sewing machine" 2. "If you never ask a sewing machine to do more than it was designed to do, you will both be very happy!" Good luck! Bob Marshall

Hello everyone... Since I first posted on this forum about my having reverse engineered the internal drive/timing belt for the Singer 95-1 machine, I have been working on upgrading the first leather belts using the same alternating hole jig that made making the belts possible. The belts essentially made it possible to "rebirth" an otherwise obsolete but venerable sewing machine of which I have now learned there a LOT of them still sitting on shelves or on their tables just waiting for their owners to learn about the belts I make for them. As of now, I get anywhere from 2-3 Ebay sales per month...many have come from Puerto Rico and in the last 2 years, I have sold about 70 belts. Even though I have always tested every belt on my 1919 95-1 before I send them out to buyers, there have been some failures of the belts over extended use. I do continue to test every belt in this manner. The failures of the first belts was primarily due to the fact I was making them with cowhide which was stretching even though I was reinforcing them with sewing across the glue bond and on the edges. The belts were running off the sprocket pulleys. It later occurred to me after examining more of the original belts that they appeared to me made of horsehide, not cowhide. Horsehide is nowhere as stretchy as cowhide, but it is still not impervious to oil...something I wanted to have as a feature of the replacement belts. Furthermore, I had not yet fully learned how Singer engineered & designed the machine to run with this internal belt and that there is no way to adjust the tension on the internal belt. The gear driven 95-10 made the 95-1 obsolete, but I still can't figure out why the 95-1 was ever introduced...same for the 96-1. If anyone knows the definitive answer to this "mystery", I'd sure like to hear it. I've never seen a 96-1, but if you look up the parts manuals for both machines, you will see the belts of the PDF parts files. I've never seen a 96-1. I had been rolling my cowhide leather belts onto the lower pulley w/o removing it...all were tight enough to run the machine for my test, but some did not endure. Therefore, I reasoned out that in fact, the lower pulley and sewing hook would have to be removed to install a replacement belt made of a non-stretch material. Furthermore, I set out on a sort of a "quest" to find a synthetic material certainly tougher than horsehide which would not stretch and also be impervious to oil plus the internal heat generated by a seamstress sewing daily as was the case in the 1920's factories. After all, the 95-1 is rated at over 3500 SPM I believe I have finally achieved my goal after the many misses and near hits I've had as I have been experimenting with various types and thicknesses of materials...not to mention the adhesives to well-set the bond. The belts I make now are made of a rubberized gasket-type material that bonds excellently (with the adhesive I'm using) and tracks perfectly on the upper and lower sprockets. I test the belts at full speed for 5 minutes using a 1725 RPM clutch motor, the same rating of the early Singer transmitter motors that were matched with the 95-1. I sew with my 95-1 every once in a while and it puts down a perfect, tight stitch with its original Simanco hook and feed dog. Truly a great, classic vintage Singer sewing machine. If anyone has ever seen a 96-1 or 96-1, please let me know. If you want to see my Ebay listing for the replacement belt and/or the Youtube video I made on how to install the belt, please be their guest...just search "Singer 95-1" on Google. Thanks for reading... Bob Marshall 919.889.7894 bobsleatherworks.com

Here's an update on my timing belt work for Singer 95-1s: I have perfected the makHere's an update on my timing belt work for Singer 95-1s: I have perfected the making of leather replacement timing belt. I make them better and tougher than the original Singer belts I have seen found rotted away inside these otherwise great high speed factory garment machines. The 95-1 was rated at 3,500 stitches per minute using the leather timing belt. I sew across the glue connection and along both edges of the belt. PLUS, I test them on my 95-1 that I bought to test them at speed before I send them out to buyers. You will find the belts for sale on Ebay and can see a YouTube video of how to install a replacement belt in to a 95-1.ing of leather replacement timing belt. I make them better and tougher than the original Singer belts I have seen found rotted away inside these otherwise great high speed factory garment machines. The 95-1 was rated at 3,500 stitches per minute using the leather timing belt. I sew across the glue connection and along both edges of the belt. PLUS, I test them on my 95-1 that I bought to test them at speed before I send them out to buyers. The attached photo is a reinforced and tested timing belt for a Singer 95-1. You will find the belts for sale on Ebay and can see a YouTube video of how to install a replacement belt in to a 95-1.

Hello everyone, This is a heads up on my evolving project to make replacement timing belts for the venerable and quite frankly OLD...or more kindly described as the vintage Singer 95-1. Regardless of the questionable thinking of the Singer designers during the early 1900's who designed a high speed short arm factory garment machine that used a LEATHER timing belt to drive a rotary hook, many of these machine are still out there sitting on shelves evidently waiting to be reborn! I've received inquires from many states including Puerto Rico. About 4 months ago, I found one here in Raleigh, NC made in 1912 with a broken belt. I was able to make a leather belt for it with the help of a machinist friend of mine. Then, I decided to try listing the belt on Ebay and was surprised by the response. Then, I made a BIG mistake, I sold the machine to my friend. His wife is sewing with it! However, I no longer had the machine to test belts I was making and some came back to me that had failed. So, I looked for another 95-1 on Ebay and got lucky to find one a few weeks ago with an intact belt. At the same time, I canceled my Ebay lsiting to wait for the machine to arrive tinking it would have a leather timing belt. However, the belt in my new/old 95-1 turned out to not be made out of leather...it was made of a tough, non-stretchy gasket type material. I have located a source for this material and my machinist friend is now reworking the jig to use to this new material to make the belts. These "new and improved" belts will well outlast a leather belt because they will be impervious to oil. Within a few weeks I'll be back here to announce the new belts. Please stay tuned!

Hello Everyone, I have a rescued and now very clean and oiled 1930's Singer 95-1 for sale with everything it needs to be put back into a table and on a stand. I have its original motor, oil drip pan, knee lifter, bobbin winder, thread stand, almost 100 88x1 size 14 needles, bobbin case and bobbins, factory attachments and BEST of all, a NEW replacement leather drive/timing belt. 95-1's are rotary hook machines. Look them up on the Singer website. The 95-1 was designed for light to medium garment and leather work like shirts and thin fashion gloves. It lays down a very fine, straight stitch and has very good punching power. I made this leather belt and can make them for anyone who wants to get their "dead-in-the-water" 95-1 back up and running. New belts come with installation instructions and you will have to retime your machine...not hard to do with a 95-1. See pix if I can get them attached...call me with questions. "Out-the-door" price is just $150 plus the UPS Ground shipping to the lower 48. It will be very-well packed to insure safe, undamaged arrival despite the gorillas at UPS. Shipping will probably be based up 50 pounds. Payment can be made by PayPal, USPS money order or local cash. I'm in Raleigh, NC Bob Marshall 919-889-7894

Hello Anne... How many early 95 class machines do you have? Just getting started trying to learn if there will be a greater demand for these timing belts...great "little" sewing machine but Singer really wasn't too smart about the timing belt design...this is why I snapped up a 31-15 at a great price! You are the 3rd person to have contacted me within the last week. Thanks, Bob

$39.95 Look on Ebay for the 2 listings...one is for the machine and motor I have, the other for the belt alone. Bob

Ladies & Gentleman Leatherworkers, I have a Singer 95-1 for sale with a new leather timing belt, its matching motor plus a lot of valuable extras for a really great deal. Look on Ebay for pictures and a more complete description...

Gentlemen & Ladies too, I have developed a method to make and replace the leather timing belts for the early Singer 95 class machines prior to the gear driven 95-10s. Since the early machines are now 100 years old, an otherwise well engineered Singer machine's leather timing belt will have rotted away leaving the owner with a basic rowboat anchor. Haven't done it yet, but look on Ebay in the next few days for this 95-1 I found locally on Craigslist and have refurbished with a serious PB Blaster cleanup and a newly created belt. I have the means to make more belts for sale to anyone who wants to get their boat anchor up and running again for sewing 4-6 layers of denim or upholstery leathers. I also have the matching Singer induction motor which I rewired along with the 6 volt work light. It uses the old fashioned 2-contact twist-in 1157 auto bulbs now selling for $5 each. Motor runs great and the light works! You will have to learn how to disassemble the rear of your machine and retime the rotary hook...all easy to do if you're mechanically inclined...OR, you can pay a tech to install the belt for you. I will help you as necessary. This is just a heads up post to see if anyone out there is interested in getting a new leather timing belt for their early 95 class machine...or wants to buy this one before I put it on Ebay. If your interested in this machine, want to see pix of it and make me an offer for everything including the motor and all the stuff I have for it...like the vintage factory binders before I list it on Ebay, just let me know. Yes, I have the metal drip pan, and the knee lifter. You will need to make/get a table top, a leg set with a pedal and connector rod, a bobbin winder, thread stand and a 1/4 - 5/16 leather belt. Stay tuned, Bob Marshall

Hello, I have 2 Singer 95-1's. One is converted to 16x257 from 88x1 needles and is still sewing okay with her leather timing belt in fair condition. I bought her on Ebay a few months ago not knowing about the leather timing belt design. If I had known about this design, I never would have bought her. I was remembering my former 95-10 that was gear driven...never should have sold her when I wasn't using her for a while a few years ago. THEN...I found another one locally on Craigslist that was from the same early 1900's. It was complete with lots of accessories and the original Singer clutch motor. However, the timing belt was broken and I got the whole lot for $150 thinking she would be a parts machine. But, being the "fixer" I am, I decided to try and replicate the timing belt. I'm working with a retired machinist friend of mine and we are close to getting to the point where we will be able to offer for sale replacement leather timing belts for the 95-1. If you own a 95-1 and can't use her because of the broken or just worn out belt, please let me know. I'm curious to learn if there will be any demand for these belts. Thanks for your interest! Bob

Thanks Wizcraft, You have confirmed my worst fear based upon the old rule: you get what you pay for. I just got dumb lucky and scored a 1911 edition of a Singer 151W1 in basically unbelievable excellent condition with all the necessary accessories for under $200. All I have to do is set her up with a servo-motor on a table with wheels and I'll have my "portable" short-bed walker for lighweight leather sewing at gunshows. I know where there's a 31-15 head locally for only $300 is nearly mint condition. My local Singer man has it. He is 87 and still running his family business. I keep telling him not to sell her until I can get the $$$ together. I really "love" old black Singers. And 31-15's are belt-free gear driven machines that basically can pound all day long! Probably the best drop feed factory garment machine ever made using 135X17 needles...but, my most serious admiration for walkers is reserved for 111W155's. I'm in Raleigh, NC and everytime I see one I want its in Montana, California or upstate New York. This coming summmer, if the guy doesn't sell her, I might drive up to Cornith, NY to get her for $400...what a deal! Consews are great too...but, I just prefer Singers. Look for another post from me about early 1900's Singer 95-1's. I have 2 of them and one was converted from 88x1 needles to 16x257. It is sewing okay with her leather timing belt still in fair condition. I bought her on Ebay and didn't know about the leather belts. Then, I found another one complete in some guy's garage...belonged to his ex-wife's mother. But, it was beat up with a lot of dust, the Singer clutch motor, coked oil, LOTS of accessories and a broken timing belt. Got the whole lot for $150...bought her for parts. Then, I got interested in trying to make a new belt for her after learning they are no longer available. A retired machinist friend of mine is working with me to make replacement belts for these 95-1 machines. I think they were used in 95-1 through the 95-9's. 95-10's are gear driven. They are tough short bed pounders and at one time were front line machines is garment and glove factories. Anyway...that's its for now...thanks agin for the review on the Alphasew/Tuff Sew machines. Bob

Hello everyone, Does anyone have any real world experience with these machines? Their Ebay and Youtube videos are worthless! I'm looking for the easiest and most cost effective way to take a sewing machine with me to gunshows and other indoor venues to sew custom 1/4" belts and wristbands for "while-you-wait" sales. Tuff Sews "look" like they can do it, but I'm still not convinced. I'd rather not have to invest in another heavy duty walker...I have an Artisan 3000 in my shop. I also don't want to take any machine requiring a "below-the-table-motor". Just too heavy and awkward to drag around! Questions: Needles look like 135x17...but of course, this info is not noted in their machine specs. Bobbin class? Also not noted Yes, they say it can sew with 69 bonded nylon thread. Is the machine 110% all-metal machinery inside...NO PLASTIC ANYTHING INSIDE??? Is their a propriety roller edge guide??? I can see the 2 holes common on all home machines, but Tuff Sew makes no mention of guides in their poorly produced videos. I know I could ask them, but I know all the answers will be positive. I want to know how durable and really "TUFF" these machine are. I'm looking for a real world review of a Tuff Sew machine from a leatherworker. Is there anyone in the Raleigh,Durham,Chapel Hill, NC area who has one? Thanks, Bob Marshall www.bobsleatherworks.com 919-889-7894