WhiteHeeler Report post Posted December 29, 2017 (edited) Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this. I bought a Champion shoe machinery stitcher, and am looking for any info I can find about it. I understand that parts for old machines can be next to impossible to find, but I manage an equipment repair shop and can make most small parts in house. I have tried using multiple search engines, but haven't only found a couple pictures that look like this one. What model is it? Is there anyway to tell the year it was built? I don't intend to ever sell it, being more valuable as a tool to me than money, but approximate value? Pedal operated, having to sit and pedal backwards compared to a bicycle. Seat slides side to side to match up to the 3 pedals. The former owner has owned it for 20 years or so, and had only used it once in that time. He kept it in a heated shop, and clean. We sewed 3 layers of 8-10 oz leather to verify that everything worked on it as intended, and after getting proper tension on the thread it performed very well. The mechanic in me was listening for anything that sounded like loose or binding parts, but everything sounded smooth. It did come with that little plastic tote with extra awls, needles and various other parts that look to have been repaired, rebuilt, or original. Also came with a copy of an instruction manual, but the manual seems to be for a newer(?) machine, although still mostly applicable. Now I just need to haul it home, and get used to using it. It will be a huge upgrade for me as I've been hand stitching all my projects since I started doing leather work 10 or so years ago. Edited February 2, 2022 by Northmount 3rd party links replaced with photos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikesc Report post Posted December 29, 2017 Don't know anything about it...but I'm jealous, it is gorgeous.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted December 29, 2017 It's the earlier model that doesn't have the end cover,we call it an open face,yours is a deep throat harness stitcher it has the thread lock on it.There is no way to date them that I have found.It is in great looking condition. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rossr Report post Posted December 31, 2017 Funny I have that exact base in my shop. Granted I dont have the machine that goes on top of it. It now has a pantograph on it. Really neat to see the machine that goes with it. Should be fun to stitch with... Ross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteHeeler Report post Posted January 1, 2018 On 12/29/2017 at 4:48 PM, CowboyBob said: It's the earlier model that doesn't have the end cover,we call it an open face,yours is a deep throat harness stitcher it has the thread lock on it.There is no way to date them that I have found.It is in great looking condition. I'm hoping that the working parts are in as good of condition as the rest of the machine looks. Time will tell once I get it home this week and spend some time making sure everything is properly oiled and getting to know it better. This will be the first heavy machine I've used, having only used a new little singer on fabric. I'm sure there is going to be a learning curve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HBARK Report post Posted January 4, 2018 I have a champion machine almost identical to that,but I only have the head.Mine is on a Landis stand and runs off a motor.Mine stitches very well and I used it for almost 20 years.I bought a cowboy 4500 so now it doesn't get used much.I bought the new one only because the champion can only stitch leather,not nylon.it is of course a hook and awl machine.I wish I had the base that you have.that is really nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YinTx Report post Posted August 6, 2018 On 12/30/2017 at 7:55 PM, Rossr said: Funny I have that exact base in my shop. Granted I dont have the machine that goes on top of it. It now has a pantograph on it. Really neat to see the machine that goes with it. Should be fun to stitch with... Ross On 1/3/2018 at 6:47 PM, HBARK said: I have a champion machine almost identical to that,but I only have the head.Mine is on a Landis stand and runs off a motor.Mine stitches very well and I used it for almost 20 years.I bought a cowboy 4500 so now it doesn't get used much.I bought the new one only because the champion can only stitch leather,not nylon.it is of course a hook and awl machine.I wish I had the base that you have.that is really nice. So that's where your machine went, Ross.... YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rossr Report post Posted August 20, 2018 On 8/6/2018 at 10:20 AM, YinTx said: So that's where your machine went, Ross.... YinTx Lol you never know Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Codysilva Report post Posted January 11, 2022 I got one today and it needs a little cleaning but I want to know more so I don’t mess it up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie Report post Posted September 3 I am a volunteer at a museum here in Molong NSW Australia. We have a very rusty Champion machine the same as this one. I would appreciate any information anyone can give me. Is there a manual available? I can't seem to download a photo, but will keep trying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northmount Report post Posted September 3 6 hours ago, Aussie said: I can't seem to download a photo, but will keep trying Upload would work better (you upload to servers, and download to personal computers and devices, not that it makes any difference to what you are trying to do here) Take a look through this thread. Your main problem may be too large a file. Reduce the file size to 800 pixels in the longest dimension. https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/15122-how-to-post-pictures-on-lw/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
