AlexAlexander

HI - nice to see the Gutenberg project alive and well over here. . . I've some extra men's boot lasts from the 1970s with good 'cone' if anyone is interested. send an email if interested.

I sew western boot tops on a 'cream-puff' 31-15 I bought from an grandmother who received it as a gift from her husband. .It was made in the early 1950s and has the original Singer motor and NO wear on the gears. I changed the needle presser bar, the wheel foot and feed dogs. It sews great. The Artisan cylindar machines designed to sew saddles, did not impress me as the leather did not feed evenly and the large needle combined with heavy thread was crude. I have also used their skiver; and also sewed on the wheel foot unit they sell in competition to the 31-15. My Singer machine is much easier to guide, and sew points and curves with than the Artisan wheel foot. But I am posting this to say that when handling curves is important, the Singer machines are really terrific, providing they haven't been abused. You are right about putting a smaller gear wheel on the motor. It will turn at a faster rate and transfer less speed to the wheel on the other side of the belt. I have some extra cowboy boot lasts in mens' medium width [D] from 9-13 or 14 with a dress toe if anyone wants to start up making them.