How Good Is An Old Singer 400-23

[bkingery]

Hey All, I inherited an OLD singer model 400-23 sewing machine that used to be used for sewing parachutes back in the ancient days, It has a new motor (not a servo dangit) and all of the pieces seem to be there, I've plugged it in and every thing seems to run smoothly but I have yet to thread it since I really don't know how, My sewing knowledge is very very small, I was thinking about trading it for something else but I may have an opportunity to do a bunch of upholstery work and was thinking it might be good for that. How thick can it sew, can I convert it to a walking foot and is the pulley easy to change or should I just leave it the way it is.

Thanks in advance

Peace

Bryan

Edited February 24, 2011 by bkingery

[Art]

Old Singer, made for high speed work on lightweight leather. Had a roller presser in -23 form, high speed bearings and a motor to clip along 4000-5000 rpm. Not your average leatherworking machine. It uses 88x1 (or 88x9) needles which I haven't seen in leather point in a while. It will sew 1/4 inch OK but you really need a leather point needle, and you need to slow that mother down.

Boot top decorating machine maybe.

Not quite the right machine for a leathercrafter. But free is cheap.

Art

Hey All, I inherited an OLD singer model 400-23 sewing machine that used to be used for sewing parachutes back in the ancient days, It has a new motor (not a servo dangit) and all of the pieces seem to be there, I've plugged it in and every thing seems to run smoothly but I have yet to thread it since I really don't know how, My sewing knowledge is very very small, I was thinking about trading it for something else but I may have an opportunity to do a bunch of upholstery work and was thinking it might be good for that. How thick can it sew, can I convert it to a walking foot and is the pulley easy to change or should I just leave it the way it is.

Thanks in advance

Peace

Bryan