Landis #1 Early Christmas Gift

[alfredleatherworks]

I have just been given a Landis No. 1 Regular Lock Stitch Wax Thread Sewing Machine as an early Christmas gift, and I’ll be picking it up on Wednesday. 
 

I’m reading through the forum right now on all the Landis-related posts. So far I’m learning a lot, but I am looking for the original needle type name/designation so I can keep an eye out for them (hopefully). 
 

I was trying to help a gentleman sell his father’s Landis #1 for the past few months (because I didn’t have the money for it myself) and he just walked into my shop to say, “Merry Christmas, have a sewing machine!” I’m still kinda in shock, lol. 
 

I’m about to go back to reading old posts about the machine, but if anyone wants to let me know anything in particular feel free to comment. Also, the pictures attached are of the machine as it is right now.

Edited December 7, 2024 by alfredleatherworks
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[dikman]

A lovely piece of old iron! What a great Christmas present.

[alfredleatherworks]

2 hours ago, dikman said:

A lovely piece of old iron! What a great Christmas present.

Thank you!

[MikeRock]

Great machine.  And a BOBBIN WINDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know if Sharon Hamre, Big Sioux Saddlery, http://www.bigsiouxsaddlery.com/ is still here but she is the boss on these machines. The place for parts is  Landis Sales & Service in Arthur, IL.   Ask for Eli Schlabach. He rebuilds Landis  machines and has parts and needles. He should have the manual and parts list. Their telephone number is 217-543-3464 

Merry Christmas for sure

Edited December 8, 2024 by MikeRock

[alfredleatherworks]

40 minutes ago, MikeRock said:

Great machine.  And a BOBBIN WINDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know if Sharon Hamre, Big Sioux Saddlery, http://www.bigsiouxsaddlery.com/ is still here but she is the boss on these machines. The place for parts is  Landis Sales & Service in Arthur, IL.   Ask for Eli Schlabach. He rebuilds Landis  machines and has parts and needles. He should have the manual and parts list. Their telephone number is 217-543-3464 

Merry Christmas for sure

Amazing information! Thank you so much!

[Mulesaw]

What a beautiful machine :-) Congrats.

My only comment is that the old mashines I have, it seems that a lot of people are good at lubricating the head, but sadly often forget the drivetrain. There's a lot of links and shafts etc. down my those pedals, and oiling or greasing them will help ensure the next 100 years of service.

Brgds Jonas

[alfredleatherworks]

5 hours ago, Mulesaw said:

What a beautiful machine :-) Congrats.

My only comment is that the old mashines I have, it seems that a lot of people are good at lubricating the head, but sadly often forget the drivetrain. There's a lot of links and shafts etc. down my those pedals, and oiling or greasing them will help ensure the next 100 years of service.

Brgds Jonas

I was always taught that if there are metal moving parts, you oil them. Goes for more than just sewing machines, lol. I’ll make sure to check on the linkages and moving parts on the pedals and I’ll oil them while I’m down there. 

[Constabulary]

So cool!

Reminds me of my former DVSG / BUSMC #6 HM. I sold it a while ago but found a good new home in Great Britain but I´m still looking at the pictures sometimes . I unfortunately had not enough work for it and it took too much space. I oiled mine with 10w40 motor oil. My #6HM took System 331 needles but I´m not sure what the Landis needs.

Good luck with this lovely chunk of cast iron!

Edited December 8, 2024 by Constabulary

[alfredleatherworks]

26 minutes ago, Constabulary said:

So cool!

Reminds me of my former DVSG / BUSMC #6 HM. I sold it a while ago but found a good new home in Great Britain but I´m still looking at the pictures sometimes . I unfortunately had not enough work for it and it took too much space. I oiled mine with 10w40 motor oil. My #6HM took System 331 needles but I´m not sure what the Landis needs.

Good luck with this lovely chunk of cast iron!

I’m not familiar with the machine you had, but the Landis #1 also uses the 331 system needles. I’m in the process of tracking those down and buying stock in them, lol. I live on a horse ranch and do a lot of heavy harness and tack work so I am very excited about my new machine!

[Constabulary]

Aaron Martin in Canada has 331 needles:

https://shop.aaronmartin.com/331LR-200-Schmetz-Needle/item/331LR-200

[alfredleatherworks]

1 hour ago, Constabulary said:

Aaron Martin in Canada has 331 needles:

https://shop.aaronmartin.com/331LR-200-Schmetz-Needle/item/331LR-200

I have emailed him to chat about what size I need for which thread size and I’ll probably be ordering a bunch. I plan to use this machine quite regularly.

[alfredleatherworks]

So... I have picked up the sewing machine and it is in such good repair! I'm excited to get it up and running. 

I've got to renovate my workshop anyway, and I'll be reinforcing the floor (it's a wood joist floor) in the process. For now, the machine (and all the rest of my leather shop) are going into a local climate-controlled storage unit.

The machine came with a package of needles (labeled "Pearson 5"), and the bobbin winder. The needles appear to be original stock needles, but I could be wrong. The bobbin winder needs some repair, but I think I can get a TIG-welder to fix it up for me. I've attached some pictures for reference.

 

[MikeRock]

That's a malleable iron casting.  Rather than TIG,  have you welder grit blast, then either silver braze or just use brass rod.  He should know to preheat the whole gear before brazing.  Mine had two cracks when I got it and it came out fine, then I found a 'parts' winder and replaced the gear.  Fun machines to run......

OH......  Do not oil the top of the square vertical bar that the needle fits into.  If that gets oiled things don't go well, stitch length is all over.  Did you get the manual?  There is a good on online.  Eli might have a copy for sale.  Ewe does have copies....

God bless,

Mike

[MikeRock]

Library of Congress:

https://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/NMAHTEX/0713/

Uwe has them as well:  https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/78318-landis-1-manual-the-regular-landis-lock-stitch-wax-thread-machine-instructions/

[1hp]

tig weld with nickel rod. pre-heat & post heat. cool slowly in insulation. we do this alot at work.

[alfredleatherworks]

2 hours ago, MikeRock said:

That's a malleable iron casting.  Rather than TIG,  have you welder grit blast, then either silver braze or just use brass rod.  He should know to preheat the whole gear before brazing.  Mine had two cracks when I got it and it came out fine, then I found a 'parts' winder and replaced the gear.  Fun machines to run......

OH......  Do not oil the top of the square vertical bar that the needle fits into.  If that gets oiled things don't go well, stitch length is all over.  Did you get the manual?  There is a good on online.  Eli might have a copy for sale.  Ewe does have copies....

God bless,

Mike

Oh, this is good info! Thank you! I'm not a welder...I can weld, but only about as good as it takes to patch a fence on a horse pasture (it'll hold but it isn't pretty). I'm not going to even try to mend this myself. I'm going to talk to some local welders who can do it right. Knowing (now) to ask about brazing instead of welding is a huge help. 

I do have a copy of the manual (digital format). I need to contact Eli about needles and see what parts he may have. I'd like to see about a few extra bobbins. I've also thought about the printed copy that Ewe sells.

As for not oiling the "part that should never be oiled" I will make sure not to oil it.

2 hours ago, MikeRock said:

Library of Congress:

https://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/Trade-Literature/Sewing-Machines/NMAHTEX/0713/

Uwe has them as well: 

 

These are good resources!

41 minutes ago, 1hp said:

tig weld with nickel rod. pre-heat & post heat. cool slowly in insulation. we do this alot at work.

I'll be hiring a professional to do the repair. My skills with welding are...rudimentary at best.

[MikeRock]

TIG weld with nickel rod. pre-heat & post heat. cool slowly in insulation. we do this alot at work.

Yes, excellent advice.