Singer 78-1

[BLW]

I WAS RECENTLY GIVEN A VINTAGE SINGER 78-1 WALKING FOOT INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINE BY A FRIEND WHO HAD IT IN A MID-SOUTH FLORIDA OUTDOOR STORAGE SHED NOT TOO FAR FROM THE GULF.

NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN SUPERFICIALLY RUSTY. HOWEVER, I'VE STOPPED ALL OF THAT WITH A VERY GOOD CLEANING WITH LIQUID WRENCH, GREEN PADS, CUE TIPS AND STEEL WOOL.

THERE WERE ONLY 3 EDITIONS OF THE 78 CLASS MACHINES...78-1, 78-2, 78-3. YOU CAN LOOK UP BOTH THE USER AND PARTS MANUALS ON THE SINGER WEBSITE: PARTS,SINGERCO.COM TO LEARN ALL ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS DESIGNED TO SEW.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHE HAS A 7/32" CORDING/WELTING FOOT SET IN HER NOW. THERE IS NO BOTTOM FEED ON THIS MACHINE, BUT SHE MOVED ALONG VERY WELL THE 10 OUNCE VEG TAN LEATHER AND PUNCHED THROUGH IT EASILY WITH THE ONE NEEDLE I HAVE FOR HER.

I'M LOOKING FOR A PLAIN SEWING FOOT SET: OUTER PART #: 36253 INNER WITH 2 TEETH, PART #: 37326

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AT LEAST THE FIRST TWO OF THE THREE 16 CLASS NEEDLES ARE STILL BEING MADE: 16X99 (CLOTH), 16X100 (LEATHER), 16X198 (AUTO TOPS).

I DO KNOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE WAS USED EXTENSIVELY IN A BOAT YARD FOR REPAIRING SAILS AND UPHOLSTERY.

I HAVE ORDERED 100 16X100 LEATHER NEEDLES FROM CUTEX MILL. ALSO, I HAVE A REPLACEMENT UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER TAKE UP SPRING COMING. THE ONE IN THE MACHINE WAS BROKEN OFF.

SHE IS A VERY SIMPLE AND VERY TOUGH MACHINE. FOR ONE THING, SHE HAS A SIMILAR BUT MUCH STRONGER OSCILLATING HOOK SYSTEM SIMILAR TO A 31-15 ALTHOUGH SHE USES THE SAME BOBBIN CASE AND BOBBINS AS A 31-15. THERE IS A DEDICATED BOBBIN CASE FOR 78 CLASS MACHINES.

THE STITCH LENGTH ADJUSTER IS JUST BEHIND THE UPPER THREAD CONTROLLER AND SHE CAN MAKE SOME VERY LONG STITCHES...LIKE 2-3 PER INCH...PROBABLY UP TO 7-8 PER INCH...CAN'T REALLY TEST HER SEWING STITCH RANGE UNTIL I GET THE SPRING.

SHE HAS HER HINGE HOOKS, AND COULD DROP RIGHT INTO AN INDUSTRIAL POWER STAND.

IF YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF CORDING OR BINDING, SHE MIGHT BE A GOOD MACHINE FOR YOUR SHOP...

HER SERIAL NUMBER IS G7253229. THIS MAKES HER ONE OF ONLY 300 MACHINES THAT LEFT THE ELIZABETH, NJ FACTORY ON 8/5/1919. INTERESTINGLY, ONLY 200 WERE PRODUCED ON 1/29/1915 AND ANOTHER 500 ON 1/6/1920. SHE WAS DEFINITELY A SPECIAL PURPOSE SEWING MACHINE AND THESE PRODUCTION RUNS PROVE SHE IS PROBABLY NOW VERY RARE REGARDLESS OF BEING DECIDEDLY OBSOLETE.

ANOTHER INTERESTING FEATURE IS THAT THERE IS NO INTERNAL DRIVE BELT OR GEARING BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER SHAFT TO DRIVE THE HOOK. INSTEAD, SHE HAS A SIMPLE INTERNAL CRANK DRIVE....VERY EASY TO LUBRICATE.

IF YOU'RE AT ALL INTERESTED IN THIS MACHINE AND YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE RALEIGH, NC VICINITY IT WILL COST YOU AT LEAST $75 FOR PACKING AND SHIPPING TO THE LOWER 48 STATES. SHE IS A VERY HEAVY MACHINE. MY ASKING PRICE FOR THE MACHINE IS $250 PLUS THE SHIPPING. BUT, THERE IS SOME WIGGLE ROOM ON THE ASKING PRICE.

THANKS FOR READING AND LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS...IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE PIX, LET ME KNOW...BTW, THE KNEE LIFTER MECHANISM ON THE HEAD IS ALL PRESENT AND WORKING FINE...RIGHT DOWN TO THE LITTLE RETURN SPRING UNDER THE BED.

THE PAINT ON THE BED IS GOING TO NEED A COMPLETE REHAB FOR SURE...IF I DON'T SELL HER FAST, I WILL DO THIS JOB MYSELF. i HAVE A POWER STAND TO TEST HER WHEN I GET THE TAKE UP SPRING AND I MIGHT MAKE A YOUTUBE VIDEO WITH HER WHEN I HAVE HER ALL REDONE.

THANKS FOR READING AND LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS...

BOB MARSHALL

EM: BOBSLEATHERWORKS@AOL.COM

WEBSITE: BOBSLEATHERWORKS.COM

919.889.7894

[catskin]

Very interesting!! I bought one, no sign of rust, ready to sew, just had to put in thread for $25.00 it even had the feet you are looking for. Just goes to show how prices can differ by where you live. I admit I got a good deal at auction.