Do You Love Old Singer's?

[Mike516]

I picked up this machine at an estate sale at the end of the day pretty cheap. I really like these old machines and save them from the landfills when I can.

From its size (it's pretty big compared to other old machines I've bought and sold), the size of the motor, and the fact that there's no decals on it, I am guessing it's industrial grade, but I can't be sure.

So can anyone tell what model it is and do you think I could sew leather with it? It's kind of stuck behind my workbench right now, so these are the best pics I could get without making a disaster area of my shop.

Thanks.

[Wizcrafts]

I can't read it, but the model number is on the oval brass tag under the stitch length lever.

[Mike516]

It's on the oval tag...I knew that

Ok it's a Model 95-10. Will it sew leather?

[Wizcrafts]

It's on the oval tag...I knew that

Ok it's a Model 95-10. Will it sew leather?

This is a light duty, straight stitch tailoring machine, meant for sewing cloth. It will sew light weight leather, using #69 bonded nylon thread, with a #18 needle. You might need to change the presser foot to a roller or Teflon foot to allow sticky leather and vinyl to feed evenly. You may also need to change the feed dog and throat plate to a heavy duty set.

[Mike516]

That's disappointing. I really thought this would be good for more than just light weight stuff. Thanks for the info.

[Wizcrafts]

That's disappointing. I really thought this would be good for more than just light weight stuff. Thanks for the info.

Unless you buy a walking foot machine, you are going to be disappointed with a bottom feeder when you try to sew medium or hard temper leather, or anything thicker than about 3/16 inch. The straight stitch tailoring machines don't have strong enough pressure and tensioning springs. The take-up lever is not built for pulling tough thread up into resistant material like veg-tan leather. These machines have light moving parts in order to gain higher speed operation, which is preferred by tailors and seamstresses, or garment factories.

Sewing 1/4 inch or more of veg-tan or bridle leather requires either a very heavy duty bottom feed machine (45k type, like GA5-1 or CB2500) with aggressive teeth, or a jump foot-needle feed (e.g. Ferdinand Bull, Adler 105, Union Lockstitch, Campbell-Randall), or preferably, a triple feed walking foot machine (from beefed up upholstery grade, to Adler 205, to Juki TSC 441 or 441 clone).

The larger machines can sew with bonded nylon thread exceeding #207. Upholstery grade walking foot machines max out at #207 or less (some can only tension up to #138 thread). A 441 clone or Adler 205 can handle up to #415 thread. A Union Lockstitch or Campbell-Randall machine could care less about the size of the thread, as long as the awl punches a big enough hole for the barbed needle.

You need to define your leather sewing parameters; like thickness, temper of leather, size of thread, stitch length, type of feed, then go after the best machine you can afford that will match your specs.

[Mike516]

I think maybe I'll stick with hand stitching for now. I don't know very much about sewing machines, apparently I even know less than I thought I did after reading your post Wiz. I thank you for all the info though, it's just a bit over my head.

Matter of fact, I'll look into its value and maybe sell it along with the others I have.

Edited June 6, 2012 by Mike516

[Happy Hooligan]

I have two 95-10's. I bought them as a deal and use the worst looking one as it seems to sew the best. But I just use it for denim. I probably wouldn't use it for any thick leather as the presser foot can only go so high. But it is a great machine for cloth. No reverse though...

[photoshutter]

I'm really like 95-10, I'm sewing with it 7mm tick leather belts, with roller, servo motor and 8" pulley instead of original Singer fly wheel, also on motor side I just change 2" pulley to very small 1" pulley:

95-10 with DC motor

[CowboyBob]

I'm really like 95-10, I'm sewing with it 7mm tick leather belts, with roller, servo motor and 8" pulley instead of original Singer fly wheel, also on motor side I just change 2" pulley to very small 1" pulley:

That setup you have there looks like it works pretty good.

Bob

[Itch]

I just sold my 29-4 that was a nice little machine..

[photoshutter]

That setup you have there looks like it works pretty good.

Bob

Thanks Bob, also my 95-10 can sew up to 6mm long stitch, just little modification on regulator groove:

Edited September 9, 2012 by photoshutter

[photoshutter]

Better video demo:

95-10 with servo slow speed

95-10 with double 8 OZ

Edited September 10, 2012 by photoshutter

[mogwild]

Spectacuar control! What did you shoot the video with? At first I thought you were using a high speed camera...until you sped up.

[photoshutter]

Spectacuar control! What did you shoot the video with? At first I thought you were using a high speed camera...until you sped up.

Thanks, shoot with iPhone 4s and Joby micro tripod

[oldtimer]

Frank Sinatra is one of my favorite old singers !

[Techsew Ron]

Frank Sinatra is one of my favorite old singers !

Funny enough, we've heard of a few customers naming their new machines. Frank is one that has come up a few times.

[photoshutter]

For this 95-10 leather point needles is not available, but I like how it work with leather, with small lathe, Dremel tool I'm making leather point needles pretty easy and precise, maybe it will help:

Needle sharpening with lathe