JeepishGrin

I currently have a small flywheel clicker press on the Dallas Craigslist. I'm four or so hours from Tulsa. It's listed with a riveting machine. Good luck! Mike

I have an ancient USMC (United Shoe Machinery Corporation) outsole stitching machine; model ORL - sometimes called, "Model O". It is in the class of the Landis Curved Needle Machines. My machine is a lock stitch machine. I've got the parts and adjustment manuals, but not an instruction manual. The machine is in good working condition and it came with lots of spare parts - but I don't know how to thread it! I want to use it in my shoe making hobby. I was given the machine by the son of a USMC service technician. This machine - once used at the Justin Boot Factory in Texas - hasn't been used in over thirty years. The man's late father used to service this machine and USMC gave it to him when he retired. I'm hoping somebody out there knows someone who has one of these machines, used to operate one, has an instruction manual or knows someone who does. USMC was sued by the federal government because they had a virtual monopoly on shoe making equipment back in the twenties and thirties. Due to their monopoly status, you'd think these old machines would be somewhat plentiful, but so far I haven't found anyone who has one.

I have an ancient USMC (United Shoe Machinery Corporation) outsole stitching machine; model ORL - sometimes called, "Model O". It is in the class of the Landis Curved Needle Machines. My machine is a lock stitch machine. I've got the parts and adjustment manuals, but not an instruction manual on how to use the machine. The machine is in good working condition and it came with lots of spare parts - but I don't know how to thread it. I want to use it in my shoe making hobby. I was given the machine by the son of a USMC service technician. This machine - once used at the Justin Boot Factory in Texas - hasn't been used in over thirty years. The man's father used to service this machine and USMC gave it to him when he retired. I'm hoping somebody out there knows someone who has one of these machines, used to operate one, has an instruction manual or knows where I can get one. USMC was sued by the federal government because they had a virtual monopoly on shoe making equipment back in the twenties and thirties. Due to their monopoly status, you'd think these old machines would be somewhat plentiful, but so far I haven't found anyone who has one.

I'm in the process of restoring a very old, but very complete, USMC Rapid Lockstitch Outsole Stitcher (Curved Needle Machine). I'm pretty sure I can get the old gal running again, but I'm nervous about the hot wax system. I'm just a hobby cobbler and will only stitch a handful of soles a year, so I think the hot wax system will be problematic with such little use. Here's my question. Can I stitch the sole first, and apply the hot wax - or some other "cold" formulation - afterward? In other words, stitch without wax and apply the wax, later. It seems to me that capillary action would pull any low viscosity liquid (hot or cold) down into the needle holes and saturate the thread and leather. This wouldn't be practical in output production or in a shoe repair shop where "time is money", but for a hobbyist, I see no reason that it wouldn't work. I'd comments from "real" cobblers and shoe repair experts. Thanks! Mike

Shoepatcher, Just wanted to let you know that Harris of Pilgrim Shoe emailed the USMC "ORL" Outsole Stitching Machine manual to me today - No Charge! Thank you, again, for telling me about Harris and Pilgrim. Without Harris I might have never found a manual for this very old machine. JeepishGrin

You might benefit from a YouTube video by Harry Rogers on setting up his Singer 31K15.

Dear Shoepatcher, Thanks a lot! I just got off the phone with Harris at Pilgrim. He, indeed, has a manual for my machine. He was busy, but said he'd call me tomorrow. By the way, to anyone reading this thread: As I said earlier, the man who owned my machine for about fifty years, was a USMC technician. With his machine, I got about a dozen manuals from the 30s through 50s for other obsolete USMC shoe machines. So, if you have an obscure USMC shoe machine, I may have a manual for it. Thanks, again, Shoepatcher!!! I'm glad I finally posted something on leatherworker.net. JeepishGrin

Here's a photo I found on the net. I've also seen these in YouTube videos of shoe manufacturing from the Thirties.

Here's the "Before" photo of my "Model 0" USMC Outsole Stitcher. It's solid. It's all there. I have lots of spare parts. I NEED A MANUAL!!! This photo was taken while it was sitting in the Dallas garage that it sat in for fifty years. It's now in my garage and is in the process of being bathed. See what I meant by my "Alien" comment?

Hey Uwe! I'll try to figure out how to add a photo. The thing looks like Sigourney Weaver's and the Alien's love child. It's a beast! USMC was sued by the government because back in the day because they had a virtual monopoly on shoe making machines. Yeah, I know what you mean about the dearth of information on the Net. I've found a few pictures and lots about the USMC litigation, but no technical info. Looks like my photo is too big to load. I'll work on that.

I was just given a United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC) Goodyear Rapid Outsole Stitcher Model ORL (Often called a "Model O"). This was once the industry standard Curved Needle Machine. It's in great shape. My Model O belonged to a USMC technician for over four decades. Before the 1960s, it was at the Justin Boot factory in Texas. I plan to get the old girl sewing again and make my own shoes. I need to figure out how to thread it. I'm looking for someone who has a manual or one of these old machines. I'm a brand new member in Texas.