SteveBrambley

Thanks for that. I just had that in the back of my memory from some place, I guess somebody probably wrote something like, "Here is a black Jack", and it sort of got 'mis-filed'. Steve

Hi, I hope these things work better than the 'Planet Sole Stitcher' my Grandfather had (see pic), that was useless!! Steve

Hi Art, Congratulations, that is a really excellent bag! Shame about the cast-plastic zipper though! I mean, a quality piece of work, like yours, deserves a nice, solid brass one. Steve

Hi, Very nice! I could be wrong, but, wasn't a 'Blackjack' also a leather drinking vessel? Steve

Hi Karl, That looks like a very nice holster, I like the buckles! I've never made one myself, but my late father used to make them quite often, back in the 1960s, particularly for the guy who drew the illustrations for the western series 'Riders of the Range' in the long defunct 'Eagle' comic, I think he was called Frank Humphris. Steve

That's a really nice bag! Round bags can be tricky, but that has turned out extremely well! Congrats! Steve

I'm absolutely speechless!! (Mind you, I suspect the girl in the photo was also!) Very well made though! Steve

Yes, you are most likely correct, I have never used a 206RB-5, only a 206RB-1. Steve

Your leather cutting/skiving machine is very similar to a machine that my Grandfather once used to cut his 'bends' up into strips for making leather shoe soles, it didn't have the built in skiving attachment, we had a seperate machine to do this, I remember it as a young lad, but I don't know what became of it in the end. It is, I believe, primarily a machine that would have been used in shoe making and repairing. Your 29K60 'patcher' is in really nice condition, this is the long arm version of a very useful machine. The only reason that I don't use ours much is because the Universal Feed Arm tends to mark the top of the leather. Steve

Yes, I would agree with that. The one I use is a 206RB-1 and it will not lift any higher than 7/16" at maximum. A good medium weight machine, with large capacity bobbin. Steve

Thanks Ken, if you ever get to the UK you'll have to come around and have a look! That, of course, goes for anyone else as well! Steve

Great Pics, Karl!! I wish that I had been able to come along as well! Steve

Many thanks guys for all your kind words. I really enjoyed your visit and being able to meet and talk with other enthusiastic and knowledgable leather craftsmen. We had so little time and there was so much ground to cover, I would have liked to have demonstrated more of the machines and perhaps let you have a go with some of them. Maybe next time! Steve

Another really beautiful case, fantastic!! Steve

Hi, If you go to the Singer site (see link below) and find part 91452, you will see what the shuttle cover looked like. http://parts.singerco.com/IPpartCharts/45K21_25_63_78.pdf Steve

Hi, I'm afraid I can't help with the 'Champion' machine as they don't turn up very often here in the UK. However, when I used to be in the shoe trade (many years ago!) the usual machine used was a 'Goodyear' outsole lock-stitch machine, but these required a great deal of skill to use properly. The only other machine that I have come across, that was designed for stitching shoe soles, is the Pfaff 335 (see Pic). But I'm sure that some of the more knowledgable will be able to suggest a lot more! Steve

Hi Ray, No problem, as I said, we have the best part of a reel of 5/16" leather machine belting, and you can certainly pick some up when you come along. Also, I have a wooden table which should fit your machine, it once fitted Grandfather's 29K58, however, the original iron treadle stand is missing (long story) so it is of no use to me, so you may as well have it before the Deathwatch Beetle get it! Steve

Now, now, I think you'll find that an awful lot of 'modern' machines are mechanically identical to the 'old' machines, they just have a fancy updated shape. In fact, I find that the old ones have a far better build quality than many modern machines and are generally more reliable and will last for years (if looked after). Steve

That's a really excellent belt, Marlon! I wish I had the time (and the skill!) to produce something like that! Steve

Sorry Bree, hadn't spotted it before! That's a really nice belt! Steve

Check to see if there's any thread from the bobbin getting trapped between the small tube in the case and the pin on the shuttle. Steve

Hi Rusty, The type of machines I use are the Singer 45Ksv100 (see pic) they are pretty rare these days, as few people are able to use them, it took me 3 months to get used to stitching with one! But they are worth the effort in the end. They can be used to stitch all kinds of cases, binoculars, cameras etc. Steve

That's a really nice belt, like the stitching, very neat. Steve

That's a really nice neat job Ray, congrats. Steve

I agree, that is a really beautiful case, and as John says you have handled the 'Teardrop' shape very well. I have to use a similar technique for the 'Blocked-Ends' of my leather gunslips, however, I have to use a special corner stitching machine, as my hand stitching is not too good, unlike yours which is excellent! This is the result I get with the machine: Not a patch on your work I'm afraid. Steve