78-1 Singer Model 78-1. Bought frozen to get sewing.

[AlamoJoe2002]

I bought the frozen Singer Model 78-1. It could be a 78-3. I have no clue. I'm going to get it sewing two layers of 8 ounce veg tan. This is the jumping foot...not walking foot. MFG: Jan 1920. I oiled it generously with clear mineral. No badges, just ser#.

I forget how to resize pictures to attach.

Anyone familiar with this industrial machine.

 

[Wizcrafts]

There have been several discussions about this ancient sewing machine, here on Leatherworker.net.

• https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/90836-singer-78-1-vs-111w101/
• https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/54558-first-machine-singer-78-1-vs-singer-96k40/
• https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/55658-singer-78-3-what-do-you-know/
• https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/60038-singer-78-3-info/
• https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/80437-singer-78-3-leather-needles/

Finally, I found a YouTube video from a fellow who was selling a Singer 78-1. He gives a great description of the machine and demonstrates it sewing about a 1/4 inch thick stack of heavy suede with #138 thread.

Please note that these posts are from up to a decade ago and many of the parts mentioned are no longer available. Some of the website links in the posts are no longer valid either.

[AlamoJoe2002]

So I attempted to re-size the photo's. This machine is the product prior to the 111W walking foot. I think it's called a "jump foot." Any info is apprecieted. 

[AlamoJoe2002]

[AlamoJoe2002]

All,

Took a few tweeks using a chrombook and phone...I posted 4 pictures of the Singer 78-1. What got my attention was the three drop down components that comprise the jumping foot walking foot. 

I thank WizCrafts for assembling the links to discussions on this forum.

I found most of the manusls I need...is there a service manual on this machine? 

Joe

[AlamoJoe2002]

Singer 78-1 verses Consew 28. How thick will the Consew 28 sew? 

My research lead me to a youtube video. This Consew 28 looks very similar to the Singer 78-1. Is this the closest example I may find for compatable manuals? The old 1920 Singer Manuals don't have good parts diagrams.

 

[AlamoJoe2002]

Hello from Philadelphia!

I found the bobbin case and bobbin. The machine is 103 years old. Does it make sense to get a new bobin case and shuttle?

Would this be an assumed part to replace when dealing with vintage machines?

[AlamoJoe2002]

I'm thinking about sinking the intact vintage machine into a ultrasonic cleaner. I think my tank would require turning the Singer 78-1 onto its head then turned onto its tail.

Has anyone heard of a success or failure for this short cut cleaning system on a 103 year old Singer? Or...I will start a clean up campaign for a while.....Or I can use a shop vac and compressed air hose fitting and blow out and vac the crud with the pint of mineral oil soaking on the machine right now.

I can't believe I'm doing this. I started out making belts as gifts. Now I want to try to move a bit faster on sewing machine. I only hand sewed. I have never used a sewing machine in my life.

The quicker I get the dirt out is the quicker I get to sewing!

JOE

[DonInReno]

These always seemed like an interesting machine - being a needle feed design with no feed dogs.   Yours seems to have a little surface rust, however, when the needle and presser bars are still rust free that’s a good sign it won’t be too hard to get it rotating again.

There are some rules of thumb in sewing machine maintenance that are pretty universal:

Do no harm - it’s important to not break, bend, spindle or mutilate parts.  Many well intentioned people unfamiliar with sewing machines, damage something that is not easily replaced and turn an otherwise doable project into a door stop.

Many adjustments aren’t intuitive and attempting to change something without knowing what affect it will have has caused many working machines to be so out of whack they can’t form a stitch.  

Old original singer parts in good shape are almost always better quality than aftermarket replacement parts.  In general, if it’s not broke there’s no need to fix it.

Well fitting screwdrivers are essential to prevent stripped screw heads.   Some corroded or otherwise frozen screws can not be removed with a screwdriver alone and will need to be heated or impacted.

Four or five or six years ago I almost bought one of these, but an industrial sewing parts supplier said the timing belts were no longer available from any of their aftermarket sources - that may or may not have changed.

Be careful with compressed air if the parts are not being taken completely apart - not only will it clean off dirt, but it can push dirt into oil holes and other clean areas as well.

Acid baths do remove rust, but they also etch, sometimes deeply etch, otherwise smooth areas.   It’s easy to spot parts that have been soaked in vinegar or rust remover.  Same for electrolysis.

Personally, I wouldn’t try to dip a portion of a fully intact machine in an ultrasonic cleaner - dropping an industrial is the quickest way to damage it and the odds of a drop go way up with this.   Degreasers that work their way into bushings and cracks will corrode anything that can’t be flushed out completely.  Degreasers won’t remove rust.  Acids will remove rust, but corrode even worse than degreasers if not fully removed.

The only shortcut to cleaning up an industrial in rough shape is good old elbow grease.   Old military manuals often suggest kerosene to deep clean sewing machines, but WD-40 is mostly kerosene and works well - just be sure and follow up with sewing machine oil since WD isn’t a suitable lubricant.

Best of luck and we all enjoy seeing progress as you work through getting it sewing!

 

 

 

[Quade]

Quote

Acid baths do remove rust, but they also etch, sometimes deeply etch, otherwise smooth areas.   It’s easy to spot parts that have been soaked in vinegar or rust remover.  Same for electrolysis.

One of the things I liked about "Evaporust" is it seem to have no impact on non-rusty metal.  Rusty metal that was already pitted remained pitted.  Which is to be expected.  I dipped a majority of smaller parts on a 100 year old lathe into evaporust and it didn't change the clearances on non-rusty metal.  I just washed the residue off with soap and water, then oiled. 

You will have to re-coat everything with paint or powder coat. I love powder coat so that's what I used. 

I agree with the other things.  You should treat the parts on this machine as if they're irreplaceable.  All the common parts are easy to come buy but less common parts a hard to find. I've been looking for the arm that moves vibrating feet on my Singer 211 so I can remove the air cylinder hookup. So far I've not found one. 

This machine doesn't look that bad.  I'd probably remove the belt and find out where it's binding, in the top or bottom.   If it's out of adjustment, that can make it bind even if everything else is free to move.  For example, the feed dog might be bumping up against the limit of travel if they're out of adjustment.  You could flip it on its side and try turning the hand wheel back and forth. Maybe you can see if something is running out of travel.