Getting a Landis #1 going

[magneticanomaly]

I rescued what appears to be a Landis #1 sewing machine from a barn, and would like to use it as an improvement over my trusty sewing awl for making knife sheaths, tool holsters, belts, straps, and slings.

 

Can anyone direct me to a source for operating and/or parts literature?  Needles?

 

This looks lie a fantastic forum.  Thanks in advance.

[Constabulary]

WOW - what a nice massive machine. I don´t know the Landis but you can contact LW member SINGERMANIA, He lives in Australia and has A LOT of nice heavy machinery. or check with Campbell-Randall.

[Geneva]

The best place to find parts is at Landis Sales phone 217 five four three 3464. This gentleman bought out Landis when they went under. I think that is an Illinois phone number. Good luck.

PS: The correct name for this monstrosity is The Landis Regular Lock Stitch Wax Thread Sewing Machine

they never made a #1.

Edited October 20, 2016 by Geneva

[MADMAX22]

That is a nice find. Looks intact from the pics. 

Welcome to the forum. 

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

They are a super good old machine, not a lot to go wrong, and everything is out in the open so you can easily find a problem if one exists. I've seen some that were nearly totally worn out and still sewing.  I used one exclusively for at least 15 years, and turned out work that nobody believed could have been sewn on one of these.  For awhile, needles got hard to find, but I think they are available again now.  Something that is often neglected with these machines is the needle guide bushing. It MUST fit snug on the needle to do a good job.  And keep everything well oiled. I cringe when I see one of these at an auction or somewhere and it's been dry for years and someone will be turning it over or sewing on it with no oil. Oil everything that moves.  Shop Talk has manuals I think, or Landis Sales and Service as mentioned above, is likely to have them also. Very nice find!  Enjoy!

[magneticanomaly]

Thank you all for the helpful replies and the welcome!

I actually am in contact with someone who works at Campbell-Randall, and they are ceasing to support the Landis #3, so can't help at all on the "#1"

Have placed a call to the Landis number...

Big Sioux, where is the "Shop Talk" place you mentioned as likely to have a manual?  I did not see a sub-forum here by that name, but maybe I missed it. And thanks for the heads-up about the needle bushing

[shoepatcher]

Proleptic is the publisher of  Shop Talk.  They are in Ashville, NC.  Ask for Dan Preston who owns it.

glenn 

[magneticanomaly]

Thanks again for all the help and kind words. I found the manual at two places, one as a PDF from the Smithsonian Institution Library,second ordereda print copy for $14 from www.Proleptic.net. Very helpful folks at both places!

[Singermania]

I also have the Lanid no 1 manual if you need it..... The machine is good, will sew maybe a half inch, no reverse, transverse shuttle and walking foot.  If the machine is complete you really don't need a lot of technical dealer backup to get it going..  check with the guys here.

[TinkerTailor]

6 hours ago, Singermania said:

I also have the Lanid no 1 manual if you need it..... The machine is good, will sew maybe a half inch, no reverse, transverse shuttle and walking foot.  If the machine is complete you really don't need a lot of technical dealer backup to get it going..  check with the guys here.

In this they talk about different presser feet for different spi allowing the user to do flat, raised and waved work.....What is waved work??/