Landis Model 12 F coming back to life

[FDC]

On 4/6/2024 at 3:47 AM, Tastech said:

FDC, I have a Landis K . Not as sexy as the 12 . I have to change the color of the threads from white to black and to brown regularly . I dread doing so . I have decided to buy another identical machine set up with a different color thread . The reason i want the same machine is simply for reference mainly . I want to  Clean , restore and paint my original machine but it takes time . What i fear is that from the time i pull it all apart and put it back together i forget where and how things go . Its always the case That you forget to take the photo of a crucial placement and you have to work it out . With a second machine close to it i can always use it as a reference . The problems with these machines is that nobody really knows how to repair and service them anymore and the people that own them just don't know how to look after them . I remember about 40 years ago the people that owned and operated them were very possessive and temperamental about their machine . You would get abused if you stood to close to them and shanked if you ever touched them . LOL  These days we call them the angry machine . You say a prayer and make sacrifice each time before you use them because one day they sew like a champion and the next it will chew you up and spit you out  . It can be quite soul destroying . Ask any one who has one and they will either roll their eyes or  you will notice an expression of shell shock on their face . No one who has ever operated one knows the feeling .

One thing i have found with mine is that because i use waxed thread i don't have to heat up the pot . If i do everything goes to crap .  I now use a 5W30W synthetic engine oil for lubrication and everything seems to run more smooth . For now at least .

I have some Questions .

How long did it take you .?

Did you have to replace or make any parts for it ? 

Did you make any dumb mistakes and if so what were they so i can avoid them?

What would you do differently ,knowing what you now know ? 

Any tips you might have from hindsight ?

Keep us posted on your progress with it . No one really talks about this subject and i wish they did . For therapy reasons . LOL

Tas

 

Hi Tas,

 

Dumb mistakes? Yeah, buying and restoring this machine! I likely have 150 hours into it now. Ouch. Money wise maybe $300 USD in total including thread, thread lube, needles, awls round drive belting, pulleys plus the cost of the machine which was about $400 USD. 

I had to replace the leather clutch friction plate, round drive belt and I changed the two pulleys on the motor drive to slow it down a bit. 

Disassembly was clunky the first time round at the very end of the process. I didn’t think my way though the process perfectly. I started left to right and removing the stitch length mechanism allows for a super easy tear down of the last two cams. Going back together is simply reversed but figuring it out was a head scratcher. 
 

I took almost 100 pictures. There is no detail too small to capture! Particular attention to the gear racks and their timing is a good thing but if you have a good knowledge of how the machine operates you can really just go to town as the cam wheels kinda dictate assembly. You will not regret having too many pictures from every angle!

My advice is this: if the machine was used with hot wax just accept the fact that it needs to be torn down. Be careful to keep the cam rollers with their respective levers and cams. Move slowly and think twice about everything before you commit to action. I felt like you do, once you start this job you have to get to the finish line ASAP as it’s best to keep it fresh in your memory. I put my shop on hold once I started the refurb. 
 

When I get it singing I’ll post a video for sure! I’m now onto some furniture projects that need to be finished so the Landis is just eye candy for a while. 

[Tastech]

@FDC Its been almost a year since your last post and i was wondering how the machine is getting along . Are you seeking therapy yet ?

[FDC]

Happy 2025 Tastech!

 

Yes I've sorted this machine out to my liking! Proper thread, thread lube and new awl and needle with a bit of fiddling. I'll never get tired of this machine, it is an industrial work of art so to speak.

I have yet to make my first pair of boots but I am picking away at that as well. Too many projects, too lazy at times... Last summer I bought a Landis 5 in 1 to compliment this Model 12 F. It needed a casting repair and a restoration as well and it now looks great. I figured out how to sharpen the stock cutter but imagined a cutter set up using replaceable circular cutters so I machined a new drive shaft and after a couple of attempts have an outboard cutter that can be changed out for a fresh sharp on in seconds. Worth the trouble? Maybe not but it scratched an itch for me!

 

I would love to see some of your footwear if you didn't mind posting some pics!

[pogue44]

Well done!  Exceptional renovation.  Where did you get the wheels for the feet?  It's difficult to find a solution to move these easily and it looks like you solved that enigma too...

[FDC]

Those are called "levelling casters" and I bought them from an outfit in Chicago many years ago. They come in several sizes, always go as big as you can is my advice. I just checked and Amazon carries them so they are a day away if your use Amazon!

[Dawn Fiorelli]

My father, a retired Landis K12 machine he’s looking to get rid of. Best offer!

[AlZilla]

13 hours ago, Dawn Fiorelli said:

My father, a retired Landis K12 machine he’s looking to get rid of. Best offer!

@Dawn Fiorelli

You're not going to get any action this way. You should post a proper For Sale ad in The Marketplace. We will require a price, among other things, please review the rules posted at the top of that forum. You could post a question in the Leather Sewing Machine forum with pictures, if you'd like some help establishing a fair asking price.