Using 214X2 / 328 Class Needles In A Busm/pearson A1

[amuckart]

Hi all,

I could have sworn I've asked this before, but I can't find it in a search so apologies if this is a dupe.

I'm looking for someone who has, or had, a Pearson & Bennion/BUSM A1 machine working who can tell me what type of needles they used in it.

My one came with a tin of needles and going through them I realised they're very similar to the needles for my 45k which uses 214x2/328 class needles. I've only noticed this now because it's only very recently that I've got my 45k to the point of paying attention to the needles it uses, and the A1 has been sitting there waiting for me to get an imperial eight-point socket to finish taking it apart.

The old needles that came with the A1 are not quite identical to 328s, the distance from the butt to the eye is very slightly different, but I don't have any of the old ones exactly the same size as the 328s I've got so I'm not sure if this is a normal variation in different sizes of the same class of needle. There were a couple of new needles in the tin too, one of which is definitely a 328 though, which makes me hopeful.

Anyway, if there's anyone out there who still has one of these ancient machines working, or who did have and can remember what class of needle they take I'd really appreciate knowing if I can use 328 needles in it.

Cheers.

Edited May 17, 2010 by amuckart

[celticleather]

If your A1 is anything like mine, I don't think needle length is too much of a priority. The needle is held in a clamp, and can be moved up and down to achieve the correct position before tightening the clamping screw. According to the manual, ''The needle is fixed in the needle bar, with the long groove toward the operator. Near the top of the needle bar is a line across it. Turn the machine until this line is level with the top of the machine head. With the machine in this position the middle of the eye of the needle should be level with the top of the throat plate.''

So long as the needle is long enough to fit in the clamp with the eye in the correct position, I guess the only critical measurement would be the distance between the eye of the needle and the point. When I bought my machine, it came with 90-odd needles, which were a complete hotch-potch of sizes and manufacturers; I've swapped and changed needles without any problems.

[amuckart]

Thanks for that. Sounds like a useful, if fiddly solution. I'll order some 328 needles in sizes for my A1 as well as my 45k then.

Cheers.

[gary jackson]

Hi there, is there any possibility of getting a copy of your busmA1 manual .Thankyou Gary.

If your A1 is anything like mine, I don't think needle length is too much of a priority. The needle is held in a clamp, and can be moved up and down to achieve the correct position before tightening the clamping screw. According to the manual, ''The needle is fixed in the needle bar, with the long groove toward the operator. Near the top of the needle bar is a line across it. Turn the machine until this line is level with the top of the machine head. With the machine in this position the middle of the eye of the needle should be level with the top of the throat plate.''

So long as the needle is long enough to fit in the clamp with the eye in the correct position, I guess the only critical measurement would be the distance between the eye of the needle and the point. When I bought my machine, it came with 90-odd needles, which were a complete hotch-potch of sizes and manufacturers; I've swapped and changed needles without any problems.