CowboyBob

Yes,the 31-15 would work good for you,you can get a roller foot & out a servo motor on it & have a great machine.Parts are still available too. You might even do a search on craiglist.

Jim, It MIGHT work but not w/o some problems,the 188 has a knob on the end of the handwheel like a home machine does to wind the bobbin & when ur sewing heavier material it will loosen up by itself & slip.It is more of a tailer machine,it also will only take a small belt because the handwheel has a small groove in it. I know because we have one here for sale & they sew great in cloth & that's about all they can handle. Bob

The 239g120 has a powered roller foot & roller feed for fancy stitching in shoes & purses & etc,it makes from 8-32 stitches pr in,uses 46,69,92 thread. prices I'd say $2-300.00,most parts are still available for it.

I guess I might as well jump in here. maybe i'll sell the 591 and keep the 211.-That's a great idea! wiz - i'm confused. what is a walking foot needle system: 135x16 or 135x17? does this refer to needle size?135x16= round point needle,135x16=leather point if not, is there any info that tells me what size needle to use with a certain thread size? also - what does the "155" designate (as in 211g155) in the model number?It the model that has a walking foot,there's also a 211g150 that is a needlefeed & a 211g157 needlefeed w/reverse & there also a 211g166 w/rev & walking foot.

That's not a lockstitch machine it makes a chainstitch & is used for sewing potato,feed & dog food bages.The chainstitch will be exposed on the bottom & will rub against the person or horse & wear through & break & make sores on the horse. Union Special has mod# 63000 & 64000 that are light duty machines that MIGHT sew chaps in a pinch(if you can get them cheap) but I'm afraid this machine(80600) won't work for you.

It might do chaps ok,but it will never sew headstalls esp.with the size of thread that you need to use. What is the model# ?

Yes,it should sew to 3/4"easy,does it have a bobbin winder with it? they are handcrank,they are good machines & that's a low price,parts are hard to get & sometimes have to be made.

It's a Landis#1 I might have a few bobbins but am out of the needles& Schmetz doesn't want to make them anymore,I'll get the # of a guy that has them.

We have made them in the past by taking 2-pcs of 3/4" plywood ,glueing them together,putting some drywall screws around the outside,let set overnite(on the bottom side),then cut the belt slot,smooth the edges,get some stain & we used some Thompsons water seal & you ready to go.

Hello, Over here in the US the gears that run the shuttle have been obsolete for over 30 yrs,they have fine teeth on them & will break pretty easy.

An old Singer 31-15 will do some good work for you.Sometimes you can find em on craiglist for $300 or less.

NO,it won't work,this machine is worth $300.00 of your sewing clothes or thin material BUT not for leather,it won't use any thread heavier than #69 & with the front loading bobbin it's hard to make a nice looking stitch in leather too.Also this machine has a knob on the end of the handwheel to disengage the wheel to wind bobbins & when you sew heavy it will unlook itself.

Well since the person you bought it from didn't mark the holes for you maybe this diagram will help. If it's to far left or right it won't lift properly.

Great machine & it will sew up to 1" thick real easy but needles & most parts are getting hard to find.They will also sew you to 415 thread & are best suited for thicker sewing.

This machine was designed for shoe repair & when you sew on something that you want to look nice it won't like nice.It has a top feed using the foot & they have teeth on them to grip the leather,they will leave marks & scratches no matter what you do.So if you stick to thin & soft leather it'll be ok. They are a great machine too have around for certain things BUT not for finish work. Bob

The largest thread this machine can use is #92. On these motors that are 220v they are usually 3phase & you probably only have single phase ,so this will require a new motor so you can call or PM me f/more info.

I have a couple of customers that put a barney knob on them & crank it by hand,they spin real easy one Amish Harness maker lets his kids handcrank his & they do alot of small repairs in harness & headsalls. You need to check the the pedal that is left is the one that lifts the pressure foot you'll need this one for sure.

I can't read the tag but the machine looks like an Industrial model# 95-40,shorter arm version of 96-40,which has a rotary hook and made for tailors & dressmakers will use 69 thread & not recommened for heavy sewing but it might sew chaps.

That sounds like a good deal,we have a few parts,needles ,feet & edge guide avaiilable for it.

If it has feed dofs(teeth under the needle plate) then it shiould sew an easy 3/8+ of leather/some parts for some of these are hard to get.They made over 80 models of the 45k & some were for darning & don't have feed dogs & some take different needle plates that have been discontinued yrs ago.I suppose they could be made.

I've seen alot worse,the main thing to do is oil every spot on the whole head that needs oil.The minor rust you have can be steel wooled. Great Find!

Union Special mainly made garment machines where Singer had alot of heavier machines dedicated for upholstary & leather work/I don't know of one they made f/leather or even a walking foot type heavy enough tto do the job.I don't know of a ser# lookup site either,parts can be a problem also many have been discontinued.

Bill, The best way to tell if it's tight enough is when it don't slip anymore.These belts do get old (like to rest of us) and don't work good anymore & you might need to buy a new one. Bob

you found a great site here.