New To The Forum With A 47W56

[AdamCollen]

So I have to start out by clearly stating that I've never worked leather in my life. However, I have a bad habit of getting interested in things and wanting to learn all I can to become proficient in a task. My wife has been making horse tack with parachute cord for a few years and has a small business selling it. Over the last few weeks we discussed changing gears and doing things with leather and nylon webbing. I've lurked this forum since that night, reading all that I can and trying to absorb some of the wealth of knowledge here.

Today we took our weekly trip to the local Amish tack store to buy hardware for her projects and I got into a conversation with the owner. We took a walk through his sewing room and got talking about machines. After telling him that I was looking for something to start out with he told me he had a machine out in his barn that he was selling. So we walked out to an old barn and slid the doors open and there was a machine. I didn't know much about what I was looking at but it was an older machine with a much newer 110v clutch motor on a union station table. We agreed on a much lower than I expected price and I stuck it in the back of my VW and drove home. I've been spending all my free time today trying to asertain exactly what it is. At first I thought it was a 153 series singer, I printed out manuals and compaired but it wasn't exactly right. But just a few minutes ago I found a tag that simply says 47w56. So, now I know. It also has a tag with a serial number from the "international shoe co." After researching the international shoe co, I have found that they were the sole supplier of boots for the military during WW1 and after learning that production of this machine stopped in 1932, I'm pretty certain that my machine could have been used in WW1. This makes me happy as I am an Iraq war vet along with my wife.

Enough of the back story. I'm having some trouble getting everything set right. I did make a few passes with it and the top side of the stitching looked great but the bobbin side was very very loose with large loops. I tightened the bobbin case slightly but I had the same results. But while attempting to diagnose my issues I broke the needle. So, my first order of business is acquiring new needles. I don't know how to determine what needles I need or where to order from. My main materials will be thinner leather like horse reigns and nylon webbing. Obviously on separate projects, I'm not trying to sew them to each other. And recommendations on needle/thread size and type? Where to buy? How or what to adjust on the machine to get a better result?

Thanks in advance

Adam.

[CowboyBob]

Welcome to the forum & leather sewing.Always remember when it loops underneath either your top thread is threaded incorrectly or it's to loose of tension so much that it won't pull it up like it needs to be.We have sold these 47's in the past & they are great little machines that won't sew quite as heavy as a 153.We do have the needles in stock in a leather point & round point for webbing or cloth along with any other parts it might need.

[AdamCollen]

Thank you very much Bob. I'll call your shop Monday morning.

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

The Singer description: Alternating presser feet; drop feed. Speed 2500 spm For stitching leather gloves and other work in light and medium weight leather. Also for binding shoes, slippers, etc., and for stitching gloves with roll welt gauge.