The purpose of left stand sewing machines

[Handstitched]

This blog may be of interest.

http://blacktulipsewing.blogspot.com/2013/01/left-handed-sewing.html

The only thing I have that is left handed ( in stock)  is a few left hand knife  sheaths. Mounted on the left side on the belt . 

So , I was wondering if these left hand machines come with  left hand screw drivers & spanners ?   

HS

[Michiel]

11 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

Has anybody considered the possibility that the left hand machines, like my Singer 18-2, are for sewing left shoes or left cuffs only? They could use an identical right handed machine to sew the other shoe or cuff. It makes sense to me. But, I'm not right!

Thats what i also think:

if you make the left and right shoe on the same machine the wont look the same because you sew them the otherway around

[suzelle]

Oh my mind is spinning back asswards. lol.

[Constabulary]

5 hours ago, Michiel said:

Thats what i also think:

if you make the left and right shoe on the same machine the wont look the same because you sew them the otherway around

They wont? Why? Whats different? I don´t think that is an significant "notable optical disturbance" when you look at the shoes. If you mean the "slanted" stitch seams well you can use LR or LL needles if the seam appearance matters but most seams I have seen on shoes are just straight.

There are fat bed machine like the 110w / 110K for sewing shoe uppers too but they did not come as left stands afaik

And on my end I see more left stand class 18 than right stand class 17 (same with Pfaff equivalents) if they were for left and right shoes you at least would see the same amount of class 17 - or not?

So far I see no plausible reason where I would say - YES thats why! But maybe thats just me. 

 

[dikman]

11 hours ago, Handstitched said:

 

So , I was wondering if these left hand machines come with  left hand screw drivers & spanners ?   

HS

Of course they do!

[Handstitched]

17 hours ago, suzelle said:

Oh my mind is spinning back asswards. lol.

Its also known as   a ' head f**k . A late friend of mine taught me that one. Had me in stitches. 

 

13 hours ago, Constabulary said:

They wont? Why? Whats different? I don´t think that is an significant "notable optical disturbance" when you look at the shoes.

It does make sense . When I make m/c tank covers that are laced,the lace on both sides has to 'point'  in the same direction. I lace from both left to right, and right to left ....hope that makes sense ? 

HS

 

[Michiel]

It is an interesting question (i think in that days it was so obvious for the craftsman that nobody bothered to mention it) 

But if it was for the convenience of left handed workers i would think they would also make other sewing machines leftsided

(but since the forced people to write right handed that times  i do not think they would do so much effort to construct special versions of a sewing machine for them)

Since the big brands do not sell them anymore (as far as i know) i think it has to do with the fact these machines mostly had no upper and needle feed:

This is my experience:

when i make denim trousers for my self i try to sew the left and right side the same way because the transport with only feed dogs is not optimal.

i usualy start with the most critical part (the crotch for example or the upper part) so if the feeding of the two parts is not even you will not notice it too much

when sewing the other side i turn the cloth so i still can start sewing from the same point

on a flatbed with a mostly flat design that works fine.

With a 3D object (and two parts which have not the same form) i am glad two have needle and upper feed so i can start sewing without losing length on the upper part …

si i think its possible they made left and right versions because when making leather 3D objects it mattered where the started sewing …

but these are just my two cents

it would be interesting to have a left and right version of the same machine and do some trials (with left and right handed persons making leather trousers, jackets etc.)

 

[Wilitrun]

Hi Constabulary and other interested members,

I came across this specimen in the local classifieds and immediately thought of this discussion.

Here's a left stand domestic Kenmore machine, not sure of the model as the picture quality isn't great and there's just the one of course, I've had Kenmores in the corner of my eye as I've been looking for a C877/07 - it's the one my mom had and the first machine I ever tinkered with, just four years old. 

Not to digress from the thread subject too much but Canadian Kenmores were white-label manufactured from completely different supply chains in Europe than their American counterparts, so are both different and quite a lot more rare. The existence of a left-stand household machine with zigzag cams in an already limited Canadian market certainly seems to suggest some thought was given to left-dominant operators (though it's already been pointed out this might prove an advantage in right-stand machines anyway so it's possible the engineering team made a gut decision here rather than a rational one). 

I already have two household machines here that I don't need, so if I manage to dump them I might drag this home to enjoy as an art object. It's been listed for 25 weeks...

 

[Michiel]

Is it possible that its just the photo which is Mirrored (by accident)?

 

[Constabulary]

13 minutes ago, Michiel said:

Is it possible that its just the photo which is Mirrored (by accident)?

 

I think you are right - not knowing the machine but look at the label of the white bottle on the shelf Maybe that's hand lotion for left handed sewing machine operators.

Edited May 27, 2022 by Constabulary