Ajusting A Gritzner Sole Stitcher

[19th century bootmaker]

I have an old Gritzner sole stitcher, the type that all the moving parts can be seen. It seems the thread snags in the shuttle hook. Sometimes it won't do this when testing on Vibram. Could the needle groove be worn and it's not catching the thread? or perhaps the shuttle hook needs refaced? Or some other problem. Any advice is helpful. I mosly use Barbours linen cord. The manual says 'left' hand twist (which I have) but have never known a lock stitch machine to use left hand twist, only chain stitch machines.

Thanks,

JesseLee

[Wizcrafts]

Jesse;

You have the twist backwards. Most lockstitch machines do use left twist thread. If you try to sew with RT thread on most lockstitch machines, the thread will begin to unravel.

Double needle lockstitch machines are the exception, where the bobbin running in reverse uses RT thread.

Most sole stitchers do better with right twist thread, run through a liquid wax pot. This applies to your Gritzner/Frobana as well.

[19th century bootmaker]

Jesse;

You have the twist backwards. Most lockstitch machines do use left twist thread. If you try to sew with RT thread on most lockstitch machines, the thread will begin to unravel.

Double needle lockstitch machines are the exception, where the bobbin running in reverse uses RT thread.

Most sole stitchers do better with right twist thread, run through a liquid wax pot. This applies to your Gritzner/Frobana as well.

Thanks, I will ty the right hand twist. It seems to work with the nylon thread, but still misses and gets tangles now and then. But I only use nylon for theatrical stuff, so not much.

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks, I will ty the right hand twist. It seems to work with the nylon thread, but still misses and gets tangles now and then. But I only use nylon for theatrical stuff, so not much.

That's a sole stitcher, for boots on the ground. I think you'll get better stitches with bonded polyester or waxed linen. Nylon is stiffer and tougher to pull up than polyester. Waxed linen is the easiest to pull into the holes.

If you must use nylon thread, try moving up one awl size.

[ELeBlanc]

Wiz,

My recently purchased early Frobana has an issue. Apparently many years ago the owner could no longer obtain the original needles with the female notch in them that aligns with the male extension to hold the needle securely. So, being creative the owner ground off that male extension thinking they could use regular curved needles ratrher than Frobana notched needles. Well now the thing doesn't hold any needles securely.

I guess I need a new one of the part that holds the needles. I contacted Henry about the part. I think I'm toast here. I suppose I could try to have a new part machined but I assume that would be very expensive (any ideas) and also my part isn't a good pattern because the essential part of mine was filed off.

Any ideas?

EY

That's a sole stitcher, for boots on the ground. I think you'll get better stitches with bonded polyester or waxed linen. Nylon is stiffer and tougher to pull up than polyester. Waxed linen is the easiest to pull into the holes.

If you must use nylon thread, try moving up one awl size.

[Wizcrafts]

Wiz,

My recently purchased early Frobana has an issue. Apparently many years ago the owner could no longer obtain the original needles with the female notch in them that aligns with the male extension to hold the needle securely. So, being creative the owner ground off that male extension thinking they could use regular curved needles ratrher than Frobana notched needles. Well now the thing doesn't hold any needles securely.

I guess I need a new one of the part that holds the needles. I contacted Henry about the part. I think I'm toast here. I suppose I could try to have a new part machined but I assume that would be very expensive (any ideas) and also my part isn't a good pattern because the essential part of mine was filed off.

Any ideas?

EY

Bob Kovar might be able to help you with parts. Give him a call at 866-362-7397. He had a Gritzner or Frobana in the shop when I was there two months ago.

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Anyone who spends time making obsolete machines work will tell you that you require a large collection of hammers (or a collection of large hammers) and be able to swear fluently in several languages because one just isn't enough!