Info Request: American Straight Needle

[Chayne]

No it didn't go through... Sorry been busy and it's not the easiest thing to reply to posts. I go to email where I get the notification, click the link but then have to sign in. I sign in and the link doesnt stay in one spot so anyways thanks for trying. A gentleman gladly sent me one. I'm still on the hunt for a few parts but if I have to wait for the right price I will. Seems when someone finds your looking for parts the prices sky rocket the small market

[simran]

I had one of these American Straight Needle machines for a few years while I was building boots. I think I paid around 500 for it in extremely good condition. Dang thing never missed a stitch. I used it for sewing side seams. Worked good for that and also sewing knife sheaths. I think I still have the soling plate from the one I had. When I sold it; it had the flat plate on it with a roller guide I had made for it.

Edited April 4, 2015 by simran

[cgleathercraft]

It has arrived! getting it in the house was a pain. re-strung it gave it some oil and turned it by hand a bit to make sure everything was going to work ok. makes some nice stitches. Waiting for the manual to get here before I plug it in and ramp it up. Also need to buy hooks, awls, and some extra bobbins.

The lube pot is missing the heater so using thread wax is probably out of the question. Is there another kind of thread lube i could use? or is it really needed at all?

once i get everything working on it i'm going to make a flat plate for it any other recommendations on sizing the flat plate?

[cgleathercraft]

Reviving this old thread

I just recently got the stitcher up and working without much of an issue. Actually reading the manual helped 10x more than playing around (who would have thought lol). Tiny little adjustments make all the difference in the world - a quarter turn on the awl and what seemed like nothing actually lined it up with the needle perfectly. It was out of adjustment just a little when I got it so just going with what it was originally was not a good idea. Almost bent an $8 needle.

I received needles/awls/thread from Panhandle Leather. I am using neatsfoot oil in the wax pot (read that its used in place of thread wax/lubricant in several other places).

The clutch was frozen but came loose with a tiny bit of oil on the drive shaft and and a gentle nudge with a screwdriver. It now spins freely except when engaged. The belt was just a little stretched and could probably do with being replaced. I shortened it up by about an inch and made a new metal staple from the wire on a wool dauber. It could probably be shortened by another 1/4 inch but I'm not entirely certain I want to go any shorter yet.

In the few test runs i've sewn as little as 8oz up to 20oz and it handled both equally well without adjustment which surprised me quite a bit.

Since i have found very little information on this machine I plan to document what I've done and put it on my website with pictures and detailed explanations.

[Art]

CG,

You might want to try some of the Sellari's products. They make a Liquid Wax and also the Traditional Hard Wax. They also make a Cleaner that works great for getting all the crap out of my 12s, just be careful that that crap might be holding the whole thing together. Then there is the Thread Lube that I use in the Lube Pot on my Campbell, Sellari's Lube also works. These lube/wax are white and water soluble (at least the Campbell is), and are quite different from the clear lube we use for nylon/poly threads in the threaded needle machines. The white liquid waxes just don't require heat to melt them.

Good luck with your ASN, and welcome to Iron Brigade.

Art

[LederMaschinist]

I realize this is an old thread, but it seems to contain the most information.

I'm looking at picking up a couple of these machines, one in somewhat marginal operating condition, the other one is pretty rough and I figure it could be a parts machine.
 

The piece of information I'm looking for is an accurate weight of the machine.  I've looked at manuals and threads elsewhere, but can't find any numbers other than "heavy".

Does anyone know what the weight actually is?

If I were to separate the top from the base, it's this something a strong ex-football lineman could handle alone?

[mikesc]

If it is like this one
http://www.leightons.ca/used-landis-strtndl.html
http://www.leightons.ca/used-landis-strtndl.html
They say that total weight is 510lbs..or just over 230 kilos
If you can spilt the head from the base then maybe 250lbs or 115kgs ..
"Liftable"* ( depends** how high )..after you get it in your arms, depends how far you are going to walk with it before you put it down..gently..

* is not an actual word, but you get the idea :)
**also depends on how big / strong is "a strong ex-football lineman"..a big (ish ) rugby player could do it, if they really wanted the machine :)

IIWY..I'd put a lifting belt on anyway..healthier for your back..Maybe you could hire an engine hoist / crane ( or buy one , they do come in handy, I have a folding one in the atelier ( other side of the wall ) about 3 metres from where I'm sitting .

Edited May 27, 2019 by mikesc

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I've transported several of these, and the recommendation by a sewing machine mechanic was not to split it, but to pull the needle, awl and bobbin case out, and then tip it into a pickup box on it's back and roll it in.  Tie it down well.

 

[mikesc]

^^^^^That is what my 1st thought was..Move it ( tied onto ) on what I'd call a "sack trolley" as far as the van / pick up truck, slide it in , secure it..easy one person job done that way..Still worth buying an engine crane though..just because :)

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

11 hours ago, mikesc said:

^^^^^That is what my 1st thought was..Move it ( tied onto ) on what I'd call a "sack trolley" as far as the van / pick up truck, slide it in , secure it..easy one person job done that way..Still worth buying an engine crane though..just because

It's still best done with two people. They really DO weigh over 500 lb!