Singer 97-10

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

See attached, this is from the Singer catalog for the 97 Class.

97ClassSingerCatalog.pdf

[Springerpanhead]

Goldberg Supply in Flushing NY ( bad airport, worse drive ) still has NOS Singer 97x3 s in stock. Their web site still lists 97x4 s but they have been sold out for a long time. The 97x3 is a fabric point needle, the 97x4 is the leather point. In addition to Schmetz and Organ they carry a brand called Orange, don't know where they are located but I will research that soon as I finish this post. I am also going to research the possibility of a small specialty shop to make some of these, there are many shops that produce what are known as

" findings " for the plating industry, different product but the same basic machinery to make it.

THANKS TO EVERYONE for the information you have provided. Sorry I'm so obsessed with this but my 97-10 rates damn close to my 57 panhead chopper as machines that I'm fond of.

[Les No6]

Goldberg Supply in Flushing NY ( bad airport, worse drive ) still has NOS Singer 97x3 s in stock. Their web site still lists 97x4 s but they have been sold out for a long time. The 97x3 is a fabric point needle, the 97x4 is the leather point. In addition to Schmetz and Organ they carry a brand called Orange, don't know where they are located but I will research that soon as I finish this post. I am also going to research the possibility of a small specialty shop to make some of these, there are many shops that produce what are known as

" findings " for the plating industry, different product but the same basic machinery to make it.

THANKS TO EVERYONE for the information you have provided. Sorry I'm so obsessed with this but my 97-10 rates damn close to my 57 panhead chopper as machines that I'm fond of.

Quality 794s are readily available in many sizes and needle points are relatively cheap, and sew 7/8" at a push, they are the same needle just a little shorter they perfom exactly the same and there's nothing to adjusting the needle bar, so why the huge effort for an extra 1/8"?

[Springerpanhead]

Good question, just obsessed I guess. I also replaced the capacitor start capacitor run motor that came on the machine with an old repulsion start induction run motor, that really didn't make any sense either, but it sure looks more original to the machine. Anyway the info about Groz Beckert looks like it might pan out. I also went to the Chech site and sure nuff there was the 97-3 posted in clear English, when I tried to pull up info on the 97x4 the whole thing went Chech and that was that.

AGAIN THANKS TO EVERBOBY for all the info.

[Springerpanhead]

Cowboy Bob

Yeah, but for THREE BUCKS they come with a lifetime guarantee, unfortunately, it's for the life of the needle.

[Les No6]

Good question, just obsessed I guess. I also replaced the capacitor start capacitor run motor that came on the machine with an old repulsion start induction run motor, that really didn't make any sense either, but it sure looks more original to the machine. Anyway the info about Groz Beckert looks like it might pan out. I also went to the Chech site and sure nuff there was the 97-3 posted in clear English, when I tried to pull up info on the 97x4 the whole thing went Chech and that was that.

AGAIN THANKS TO EVERBOBY for all the info.

I can respect that, you certainly picked one hell of a machine, Singer build quality is beyond reproach also Simanco needles where the best ever made, I'm a Pearson No6 man my self, I wish you all the luck in your search.

Les

[DavidMillsSaddlery]

The story I heard about 97 series history was that it was made for the military in WWII to use in parachute lofts and for cargo plane load riggings. There were several configurations for various uses in the lofts where the stuff was made and/or repaired. Don't know about this but its a good story.

WW I as well! Mine was made in 1910 according to who sold it to me!

[Singermania]

you can shorten the needle bar height to take a 794 but then you have a massive machine limited to 1/2"..... better to go to the bigger 7 class needle the 1000. have given up chasing old 97 stock needles and just cut down pearson needles these days, I have heaps of them in all sizes.

[gordond]

in regard to 97x3 ..have posted this a few times before...

Groz Beckert ,Germany: circa 2008

97x3:

sku :703762 97x3 size 250 [27] Available 3,800 needles

sku: 702412 97x3 size 280 [28] Available 8,100 needles

sku: 703772 97x3 size 300 [29] Available 2,100 needles

Price: 109 Euro/100 [Germany].

no 97x4 left [note: Maico in Mexico has none..I know --I phoned in 2008 and asked them...fortunately my Spanish was good enough to get hold of an English speaker..very helpful man and kind enough to get in contact with Groz and they helped with the info]

There were a few 97X3 held in the US that I was aware of...... but it has been awhile since I last checked

.

I would still like to split 100 unit packs with anyone who is interested. [27's and 28's]

note ..I have seen other 97x needles for sale ;but found out they were 2-3/4" long.

[this is incorrect as we know...97's are 3" inch long]

As Steve said,Schmetz 1000H is being used [longer than the 97x?],however it is a scarfed roundpoint needle ,stock of size 29,30 were showing.

1000H's are also on the endangered or extinct species list

[Springerpanhead]

When I got my 97-10 it was already set up to use the class 7 needles, because I have a Singer 7-5 machine and had 7x4 needles on hand, that's what I went with. Too dumb to know the difference. Did however notice that there was interference with the needle bar when the foot was fully raised, " shudda beena clue " I haven't measured it, I will today but it seems like there is a hell of a lot more than

1/2 inch under the foot before the interference occurs. Reason I got into this whole 97 thing is because I want to leave the 7-5 set up for webbing, and use the 97 for leather. I rarely ever go over 1/2 inch so the current set up isn't really a problem, just annoys me that the machine can't be used to full capacity in case I need it. I have many friends with heavy horses, having kept Clydes and Shires myself for many years, and if they come dragging in some collars or traces I would like to be able to fix them. Had a Tippman for doing that years ago but gave it to a friend of mine who's retiring from his job and wants to do some leather work. I Like the old Singers cause it's nice to have something hanging around that's older than I am.