Ipschnug

Hello all, I've been looking for a post bed machine on my limited budget, and have come across a Durkopp 541-103, which from my research seems to be a pretty specialized machine. I have attached a picture for reference. Apparently they were designed to insert sleeves into jackets? Anyways, the unusual attachment on the stitch length adjustment arm seems pretty odd. Does anyone know if the stitch length can be adjusted, and if they have a reverse function? I know the traditional Durkopp 239/241 can. Any info on this machine would be much appreciated.

I have one of the ebay clones, and while it looks identical, there is significant slop in every adjustment. I was using it primarily to edge skive chrometan, and it was very difficult to keep in adjustment. When it popped out of adjustment, invariably it took a bite out of the piece of leather, ruining it. I eventually went back to hand skiving with my knife.

I think I have a set of those, I'll have to give them a try. Thanks for the picture!

I managed to find some 135x16 needles locally and was able to get the machine to produce some beautiful stitches! Thank you all for your help. One new question, the feet that were on it looks to be a piping setup, with sharp teeth that was marking the leather. The machine came with several feet, do either of you have pictures of which feet you prefer for most of your leatherwork?

Thank you all for your help! Now that you say this, I can't help but wonder if the machine has already been adjusted. I think several of the boxes of needles that came with it said they were size 135x17. It's been interesting trying to decode the encryption that they use on these sewing machine needles! Unfortunately the previous owner is no longer with us, I would have liked to pick his brain about a machine he obviously used and cared for. Leecopp, the Singer 78 1,2,3 manual I found thanks to this site has a page that mentions what parts are different on the -3, but as a newb, I wasn't able to interpret the significance of the differences.

Hello all, I just picked up my first sewing machine, an old Singer 78-3. It seems to be in good functional order, but the prior owner only did upholstery. It came with a ton of standard point needles, but none of the cutting point needles for leather. Looking at the manual, it says the needle variety is "16x100" for leatherwork. I have not been able to find these anywhere, and none of the compatibility tables I have found list alternatives. Does anyone have experience with what needles this machine takes, or can point me in the direction of where to find the old 16x100 type? I would like to run up to the 138 thread I have read that this machine is capable of, which sounds like either a size 22 or 23, correct? Thanks!