Singer 111G156 Leather Sewing Machine - Is It A Good Machine?

[latigoandlace]

Hi guys!

This is my first post I'm hoping to find some information about the Singer 111 G156 sewing machine. I just started working with leather about 4 months ago and I've been hand stitching all of my projects but it's too time consuming/hard on the hands. Most of what I sew is 3/8" thick or less, do you think this machine can handle that? The guy swears it will sew up to 1/2" but said he's never tried... The ad says "It has a compound feed walking foot, reverse, safety clutch and drop in bobbin. This high quality machine is fully serviced and in excellent condition."

I recently bought an older industrial singer 15-91 off ebay, the seller swore up and down that it would sew anything that would fit under the presser foot but that was a bald face lie (it is in such bad shape it won't even sew cotton!) I'm a little nervous to believe what sellers claim now :-/

I would appreciate any insight you may have about the Singer 111 G156 as well as recommendations for other machines that are capable of handling 3/8" thick leather in the $600 range. I know it's not a lot but I figure that should buy me something decent while I save up my pennies for a newer machine

Thanks a ton!

Ashley B.

[tnawrot2]

You didn't state what type of leather you are sewing, and what you are making. I have a 111w155 similar machine as yours but mine doesn't have reverse. I sew with 138 thread. Your machine might sew fast for leather, and the clutch motor is hard to learn. I would suggest a servo motor with a 2" pulley. I would take whatever you intend to sew, with you when you look ar the machine.

'

[Constabulary]

I´m also using a 111G156 - its nice machine but 3/8" is quite thick! I´m not sewing 3/8" material but I just tried to get 3/8" canvas straps under the foot of mine. Its to thick for my machine! Take a piece of 3/8 leather with you when you are visiting the seller and try it. I think 5/16 is the thickest the machine man handle.

I think you probably need something in the class of Adler 4 / 104 / 204 or Singer 45K or one of their clones.

[cdthayer]

I'm also using a 111G156.......I think 5/16 is the thickest the machine man handle.

I just picked up a Singer 111G156 that used to belong to an upholstery friend here in town. I'm still cleaning it and replacing parts, so I haven't gotten to sew on it yet. I got the new Arm Shaft Connection Belt installed on it yesterday, but haven't put a needle in it yet or checked the foot lift.

The Singer 111G156 User/Adjuster manual says that "The alternating pressers have an adjustable lifting eccentric to enable the lift to be set to the minimum amount required for the work to be sewn.", and then shows the set screw and screw that allow the height to be set.

Have you checked to see if yours is reaching full lift? Maybe it is set for 5/16th inch lift. The manual says that the machine has a 1/2" maximum bar lift.

CD in Oklahoma

Edited October 2, 2013 by cdthayer

[Geneva]

Usually the maximum amount of lift is obtained by a knee lift device on the bottom of the sewing machine table. The hand operated lift will not go that high. I have included a file you might like. I think the price if to high but that it up to you. 400 I think would get it. These are old machines some of them were built in the 30's to 60's. Like you a gentleman told me that the 144 I bought from him was the finest machine east of the Mississippi. The machine was built around 1944 it is older than I am. It has been worn out twice and is in need of some parts to fix the machine. Needless to say he too was a bald face liar. Good luck.

111W156.pdf

Edited October 2, 2013 by Geneva

[latigoandlace]

I'm happy to say that I bought the machine and it is a true WORK HORSE! Wow, it sews stiff 1/2" veg tan leather like butter! I bought it off Craigslist for $600 from a professional that specializes in industrial machines and it came with lots of extras including the solid wood table. I can get it to go one stitch at a time but I have to be barefoot and just flutter a toe lol it's very sensitive so I'm thinking the reducer would be a good idea. He said he can install one for around $100 and I'm thinking that sounds like a good investment, a few lead foot runaways and I'd ruin $100 worth of leather in no time!

I'm making all kinds of things, mostly horse related gear. I wasn't at all expecting to get a machine that could repair my heavy draft harness but this machine will have no problems I'm even considering making one from scratch! I just started college again full time, after about a year off, so my biggest problem will be finding the time :-/

Thank you for the great info guys, this forum is great!

Ashley

[Constabulary]

1/2" leather - WOW! Seems I have to make some adjustments again ;-)

[Sunnyside Scott]

1/2" leather - WOW! Seems I have to make some adjustments again ;-)

I bought a used Consew 227r from someone that sewed leather, they had the presser feet set about 1/4" above the deck, in the down position.

I think they did this this to allow them to sew thicker stuff. I never tried to use it in that state, since I sew industrial fabrics and need to grip thinner materials.

Scott

[hyttogpine]

@ Constabulary

1/2" leather - WOW! Seems I have to make some adjustments again ;-)

Do you success, and to how much do you increased your 111G156 to handle of thickness. If it at all was possible ?

Do you, or anybody, know of a better copy of instructions to 111G156. The fig.'s are to difficult for me to see/understand and it's content.

I'm looking at a specific 111G156 to a reasonable price, and have begun to study the instructions and functionality. And there are many new concepts to understand without knowing the ability/funktions.

[Constabulary]

No I have never tried it and I will not try it. I can sew up to max. 9mm materials w/o problems but I seldom do. I usually sew 4-6mm with it. For thicker materials I have my Singer 133K3. The 111 is an upholstery machine and not meant for heavy leather work.

Someone posted some pictures of a n oil soaked 111G156 manual somewhere but the pages were translucent so it did not help much.

[Geneva]

Try this site for the manual. It is not the G it is the W should work.

parts/singerco.com/IPinstManuals/111w156.pdf

[hyttogpine]

Thanks Constabulary for the answer.

Sometimes it's easy for me to be carried awy of max. parameters.

@Geneva

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately these illustrations was the same poor quality.

I'm think I will manage to thread the machin (if I purchase ?) but from the text (PDF) I more worried about several adjustment explained and supported by illustrations ? ? Well, well I'll se.

[Constabulary]

hyttogpine - I don´t wanted to sound harsh. Seems I was in a bad mood - sorry .

I guess you wanted to know HOW to adjust the foot hight on the 111G156, right?

On the backside there is an internal screw with a very coarse thread - don´t know the name of it but with this screw you can adjust the foot lift hight. If it is stuck try some penetrating oil or heat gun or similar.

See red circle

[SewingBill]

.All,

I have a 111G156 and have got it figured out....I think....   When I brought it, it had been disassembled and reassembled badly out of time so it took a bit to get it to sew. Sews well now, but the issue is that the largest stitch I can get out of the machine is 8 SPI (3.1mm) and would like to extend the stitch length to  4 SPI (6mm) or possibly 5 SPI (5 mm).   The machine appears to be limited to 8 SPI by the foot lift eccentric....is there some way or adjustment to extend the stitch length that I am missing... or does this 111G156 have a max stitch length of 8 SPI (3.1 mm).

[shoepatcher]

Sewing Bill.  I think the largest stitch you can get on a 111W156 is 5mm. or 5 spi.

glenn

[CowboyBob]

On 12/19/2019 at 4:28 PM, SewingBill said:

.All,

I have a 111G156 and have got it figured out....I think....   When I brought it, it had been disassembled and reassembled badly out of time so it took a bit to get it to sew. Sews well now, but the issue is that the largest stitch I can get out of the machine is 8 SPI (3.1mm) and would like to extend the stitch length to  4 SPI (6mm) or possibly 5 SPI (5 mm).   The machine appears to be limited to 8 SPI by the foot lift eccentric....is there some way or adjustment to extend the stitch length that I am missing... or does this 111G156 have a max stitch length of 8 SPI (3.1 mm).

This happened with many of the older machines that shared the same type of feed cam as Singer, when they put reverse on them the stitch length shortened do to the geometry of the reverse parts.I don't have any sales lit on the 111G156 but the 111W155 advertises 31/2 spi.

[Constabulary]

Funny to read my own 6 years old posts - I have learned a lot since then My 111G156 has a 12mm foot lift and can sew what fits under the feet but depends on density of the material.

The 111G156 has 5SPI when you have equalized F & R stitch length but you can alter that to a longer F stich length but when you do that the R stitches become shorter. The procedure is mentioned in the manual.

Edited December 21, 2019 by Constabulary

[SewingBill]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  Into the machine with the advice given. Appreciate it.