CowboyBob

Corey, yes,it's a 97-10 & parts will be hard to find for it & you'll even have a hard getting the correct needles for it as they haven't been made for years,I found 500 of them a couple of yrs ago but they're all gone.This machine will sew you to 1" thick with the correct needle,you can lower the needlebar down & use a 794 needle that is readily available but you be limited to sewing 1/2" thick with it. Good Luck, Bob

We sell organ needles along w/Schmetz & Groz-Beckart ,the last 2 will work better in heavier leather sewing than the Organs,which will bend & break easier. Bob

Actually unless it's a real old(I'm talking 1850-1870 era) most improvements you make will increase the value (as long as they are for thre better) so as Darren said keep the old parts incase you want to put them back on & get it setup the way you want.I feel things like a DC Servi improve the value as it'll be more user friendly machine to operate. HTH, Bob (Live from Sheridan,WY)

The best way to find out is to take your leather your going to use ( some types of leather sew different than others)& try it on the 205 first,it's the better one for leather,it will be sewing at it's max so you might even have to lube the thread to help it sew. Bob

The only thing different is the stitch length. Bob

The 128x2 are small @ the top & 11/2" long,I have that needle in stock in sizes #12,16,18,19,20,21,23,24. Bob

I would say to stay away from these machines,They were made for sewing clothing with household weight thread. Bob

Your stopping it in the wrong spot,try stopping right after the needle picks up the thread,let the needle come out of the material & then pull alittle slack thread & pull out the material you've sewn. Bob

Yes,this sounds like a good buy.They take the 138 w/o any problems & you'll also like the larger bobbin.The feet from your 111w wil;l fit on it too. Also when replacing the bobbin you don't have to pull it up through the needle plate like on the 111w,just leave approx 1" tail of thread put it in & start sewing. Bob

It's been a while since I ran one ,but I think it'll handle chap weight material ok using #69 or 92 thread. We probably have the needle but on a machine this old have found out that alot of times people change them for something different & would like to see an old one if you have an extra to mail us. Bob

Kevin, Usually I click on the pic & it'll expand. Bob

I found this old manual in my collection of a postbed that threads the same. Bob

I couldn't find a diagram so maybe this will help. Bob

Wiz is correct it's a 9" 441 style. Bob

That sounds like it will really slow it down.Great Job. Bob

It should sew up to 20 oz of leather real easy & use #207 thread if you want to. We have most of the parts in stock for it. Bob

I've seen one way treadle brakes & think they would be pretty easy to make.

A machine w/o a bobbin makes a chainstitch that will have loops on th bottom of the stitch that looks like the under side of a potato bag,very unsightly in leather. There are machine like Singer 300w that make a chainstitch & used in tarp & canvas & even some auto upholstery. Bob

Ann,I usually tell people the max is around 20 oz or 5/16" thick & 138 thread will be the largest. Bob

You might want to take the needle plate off & see how close the hook is to it,it might be hitting do this to much & you'll be needing a new hook,you might try adjusting the hook guard to just touch the needle. Bob

Well this machine is for sewing thin material like clothing,it might sew thin leather like pocketbooks,wallets with # 69 thread maybe up to 1/4" thick. Bob

Knut, I'm glad to hear you got it going. Bob

Nice machines you have there.That one look similar to this Singer 98-2 I have,which was made for rebooting car tires (back in 1915) I think it would sew leather easily to 1/2" Bob

It will be good enough to sew chaps as long as you get a teflon foot so it can feed better,max thread size is #92 Bob

Ok,take the needle plate off,turn the machine around so the needlebar is all the way down & turn the machine in the direction it runs & let the needlebar rise up 3.6mm & the point of should be @ the needle.Let me know what happens. Bob