Singer 78-1

[BLW]

HELLO EVERYONE,

I WAS RECENTLY GIVEN A SINGER 78-1 BY A FRIEND WHO HAD IT IN AN OUTDOOR IN MID-SOUTH FLORIDA STORAGE SHED NEAR THE GULF FOR A LOOOONG TIME. I JUST GOT THE HEAD WITH THE HINGE HOOKS STILL IN PLACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS GENERALLY RUSTY BUT SALVAGEABLE.

I'VE JUST FINISHED A FIRST CLEANING WITH LIQUID WRENCH, GREEN PADS AND STEEL WOOL TO ELIMINATE AND STOP THE SURFACE RUSTING. I HAVE HER OILED AND INSIDE NOW, AND I'M WAITING FOR CUTEX MILL TO SEND ME A REPLACEMENT TAKEUP SPRING FOR THE UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER. THE ONE IN THE MACHINE WAS BROKEN OFF AND THAT'S ALL I COULD FIND WRONG WITH HER.

SHE HAS A 7/32" CORDING FOOT SET ON HER NOW, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET A PLAIN STITCHING SET FOR HER...ALTHOUGH I DON'T REALLY INTEND TO KEEP HER.

THE SINGER PART NUMBERS FOR THE PLAIN STITCHING SET ARE 36253 FOR THE OUTER FOOT, AND THE INNER FOOT IS 37326 WITH 2 TEETH FOR MOVING THE GOODS ALONG. THIS MACHINE DOES NOT HAVE A LOWER FEEDING SYSTEM, BUT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT STILL WORKED FINE FOR MEDIUM WORK.

I DO KNOW THIS MACHINE WAS USED EXTENSIVELY FOR SAIL REPAIR IN A BOAT YARD AND WAS ALSO USED IN AUTOMOBILE SHOP FOR UPHOLSTERY WORK...PRINCIPALLY FOR BINDING/PIPING WORK.

SHE HAS A BEEFY HAND WHEEL AND IS MOVING FREELY. NEEDLES ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR HER AND I JUST ORDERED 1OO 16X100 LEATHER NEEDLES TO HAVE TO TEST HER.

THE VEG TAN LEATHER ON THE BED IS ABOUT 10 OUNCES THICK AND SHE MOVED IT ALONG FINE AND EASILY PUNCHED THROUGH IT JUST BY ROLLING THE HAND WHEEL...SHE HAS VERY GOOD PUNCHING POWER.

I HAVE ALL THE MACHINES I NEED FOR MY GUN BELT AND KNIFE SHEATH WORK, SO I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO PART WITH HER FOR A NOMINAL PRICE PLUS SHIPPING TO THE LOWER 48. OF COURSE, SHE WILL NEED A COMPLETE POWER STAND OR CAN BE DROPPED INTO A STAND YOU ALREADY HAVE.

I WILL LIST HER IN THE MACHINES FOR SALE FORUM, BUT I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE GOOD WAY TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS OTHERWISE LIMITED PRODUCTION AND PROBABLY NOW VERY RARE MACHINE.

YOU CAN'T READ THE SERIAL NUMBER IN THE PICTURES...IT IS G7253229. THIS MAKES HER ONE OF ONLY 300 THAT LEFT THE ELIZABETH, NJ FACTORY ON 8/5/1919. INTERESTINGLY, I NOTED THAT 200 WENT OUT EARLIER ON 1/29/15 AND ANOTHER 500 WENT OUT ON 1/6/20.

YOU CAN LOOK UP BOTH THE USER AND PARTS MANUALS ON THE SINGER WEBSITE: PARTS.SINGERCO.COM TO

READ ABOUT THE ONLY 3 GENERATIONS OF THIS MACHINE AND WHAT SHE WAS DESIGNED TO SEW.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE STITCH LENGTH ADJUSTER IS ON THE FRONT OF THE MACHINE BEHIND THE UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER...SHE CAN DO SOME VERY LONG STITCHES...LIKE 2/3 PER INCH.

ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT IS THAT SHE HAS A SIMILAR BUT MUCH STRONGER BUILT OSCILLATING HOOK SYSTEM SIMILAR TO A 31-15. SHE USES CLASS 15 BOBBINS AND THE SAME BOBBIN CASE...ALTHOUGH THERE IS A DEDICATED BOBBIN CASE WITH AN ADDED SLOT AND THERE IS ONE IN THIS MACHINE.

ALSO, SHE IS A CRANK DRIVEN MACHINE INSIDE...THERE IS NO INTERNAL DRIVE BELT LIKE 111W CLASS MACHINES, SO THE BOTTOM IS WIDE OPEN AND EASY TO LUBRICATE.

IF YOU'RE AT ALL INTERESTED IN THIS MACHINE AND WANT MORE PICTURES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT BOBSLEATHERWORKS@AOL.COM.

THANKS!