Bobbinless?

[stanly]

I'm wondering if it's possible to adapt a lockstitch flatbed machine to feed the thread from a spool instead of a bobbin?

I heard from my local sewing machine dealer that this is common for Chainstitch machines and used some kind of tube?

Guessing for feeding/routing, maybe open on side to make it easier to get thread in?

Are there clear pictures of this setup somewhere?

Esp. what happens going into the bobbin case?

Thanks

This guy had same question - never got answered

http://leatherworker...h=1

And for kicks - here's a link that illustrates some of the different stitching types (being formed)

http://oldsewingmach...candanex.co.uk/

[CowboyBob]

A machine w/o a bobbin makes a chainstitch that will have loops on th bottom of the stitch that looks like the under side of a potato bag,very unsightly in leather.

There are machine like Singer 300w that make a chainstitch & used in tarp & canvas & even some auto upholstery.

Bob

[TwinOaks]

It'd be great if you ever wanted to 'unzip' some leather you've sewn together......instead of stitching in an actual zipper.....

[Cobra Steve]

Back in the 1880,s, Sir Isaac Singer offered anyone, one million dollars if they could develop a lockstitch machine(needle and bobbin), also known as a 301 stitch, where the bobbin would be as large as the spool of thread. 130 years later, it still hasn't been done. The machine would have to be 10 times the size as it is now, virtually making it not feasable. If anyone would like to try and invent one, be sure to invest in a few bottles of headache pills, or a few bottles of Jack Daniels. Either one of these remedies will kill the pain that you will inflict upon yourself by trying. I know this, because as most sewing machine mechanics/expert's, have, at least on a few occasions, tried. Thought I had it once, but in reality.......wasn't even close! Steve

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

I've got a variety of wacky things on my list including one way treadle brakes, transverse treadles and an assortment of external hand cranks for a variety of machines but not even I'm crazy enough to try

[CowboyBob]

I've seen one way treadle brakes & think they would be pretty easy to make.

[Art]

The Union Lockstitch machine is the closest I have seen with the big bobbin that holds around 100-150 yards of thread. There was one set of drawings I have seen that used a tube for the hookshaft and ran the thread through that. If anything ever comes to fruition, it will set the prewound bobbin industry on it's ear. It is just hard to imagine that American, English, and German ingenuity would not have developed something to replace the bobbin.

Art

Back in the 1880,s, Sir Isaac Singer offered anyone, one million dollars if they could develop a lockstitch machine(needle and bobbin), also known as a 301 stitch, where the bobbin would be as large as the spool of thread. 130 years later, it still hasn't been done. The machine would have to be 10 times the size as it is now, virtually making it not feasable. If anyone would like to try and invent one, be sure to invest in a few bottles of headache pills, or a few bottles of Jack Daniels. Either one of these remedies will kill the pain that you will inflict upon yourself by trying. I know this, because as most sewing machine mechanics/expert's, have, at least on a few occasions, tried. Thought I had it once, but in reality.......wasn't even close! Steve

[stanly]

I'll put up the Utube links of machines that seem be doing this:

This looks like a machine doing exactly what I'm talking about.... and showing the bobbin case (in about .22), but I can't see how it's routed.

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Sorry I confused everyone else be telling how I arrived at asking such an odd question (seemed to me).

The Union Lockstitch machine is the closest I have seen with the big bobbin that holds around 100-150 yards of thread. There was one set of drawings I have seen that used a tube for the hookshaft and ran the thread through that. If anything ever comes to fruition, it will set the prewound bobbin industry on it's ear. It is just hard to imagine that American, English, and German ingenuity would not have developed something to replace the bobbin.

Art

Thanks Art

link to 2 thread chainstitch machine - invented 1994

http://zarif-sewingmachine.blogspot.com/

[oldtimer]

Back in the 1880,s, Sir Isaac Singer offered anyone, one million dollars if they could develop a lockstitch machine(needle and bobbin), also known as a 301 stitch, where the bobbin would be as large as the spool of thread. 130 years later, it still hasn't been done. The machine would have to be 10 times the size as it is now, virtually making it not feasable. If anyone would like to try and invent one, be sure to invest in a few bottles of headache pills, or a few bottles of Jack Daniels. Either one of these remedies will kill the pain that you will inflict upon yourself by trying. I know this, because as most sewing machine mechanics/expert's, have, at least on a few occasions, tried. Thought I had it once, but in reality.......wasn't even close! Steve

Jack Daniels !!?? "You can drink it but it tastes like crap" ! Who would even try!

/ Knut

[Saddlebag]

What came first, the Bobbin or the Shuttle?