Singer 78-3 Leather Needles

[Ipschnug]

Hello all,

I just picked up my first sewing machine, an old Singer 78-3.  It seems to be in good functional order, but the prior owner only did upholstery.  It came with a ton of standard point needles, but none of the cutting point needles for leather.  Looking at the manual, it says the needle variety is "16x100" for leatherwork.  I have not been able to find these anywhere, and none of the compatibility tables I have found list alternatives.  Does anyone have experience with what needles this machine takes, or can point me in the direction of where to find the old 16x100 type?  I would like to run up to the 138 thread I have read that this machine is capable of, which sounds like either a size 22 or 23, correct?

Thanks!

[leecopp]

I adjusted my needlebar on my 78-1 (uses same needles) to utilize 29x3 (round point) (29x4 leather) needles since that is what my SInger 42-5 is using. .  You can just as easily use  the very similar (except needle has a skarf) 135x16 or 17 needles that are more modern and about the same dimensions.  This is technically a simple  1 screw adjustment  , but the challenge is getting the connection to move after being in the same position for the better part of a century.  Some combination of tapping, heating, oiling and brute force may be required.

I have a 78-3, but mostly run my 78-1.  I have note figured out what the real difference is, but I have not tried very hard .. smile ..

Some pics and such for my 78-1 are at https://sites.google.com/site/oldironmachines/home/singer-78-1

I have not tried 138 thread on my machines.  best of luck. let us know how it goes.

[leathersmyth]

I have a couple of those machines,  The needles i use are 135x17 . they are a size 24. I think ( dont quote me..  but i think i had to adjust the needle bar because they were a different length than they use to use.... I have used 138 and thicker  thread on the machine , no problem....

[leecopp]

Whoops, my notes say that it sewed ok  with 138 thread top and bottom, but I have only done limited test sewing, no projects or extended testing. It was before I built my junk box bobbin winder and it was a bit tedious on a treadle powered winder on a domestic machine.

[leecopp]

2 minutes ago, leathersmyth said:

I have a couple of those machines,  ...

Hey Leathersmyth  . .  what kind of sewing do you do on your 78?

[Ipschnug]

 

44 minutes ago, leathersmyth said:

The needles i use are 135x17 . they are a size 24. I think ( dont quote me..  but i think i had to adjust the needle bar because they were a different length than they use to use.... I have used 138 and thicker  thread on the machine , no problem....

49 minutes ago, leecopp said:

You can just as easily use  the very similar (except needle has a skarf) 135x16 or 17 needles that are more modern and about the same dimensions.  This is technically a simple  1 screw adjustment  , but the challenge is getting the connection to move after being in the same position for the better part of a century.  Some combination of tapping, heating, oiling and brute force may be required.

 

Thank you all for your help!  Now that you say this, I can't help but wonder if the machine has already been adjusted. I think several of the boxes of needles that came with it said they were size 135x17.  It's been interesting trying to decode the encryption that they use on these sewing machine needles!   Unfortunately the previous owner is no longer with us, I would have liked to pick his brain about a machine he obviously used and cared for.

Leecopp, the Singer 78 1,2,3 manual I found thanks to this site has a page that mentions what parts are different on the -3, but as a newb, I wasn't able to interpret the significance of the differences.

[leathersmyth]

4 hours ago, leecopp said:

Hey Leathersmyth  . .  what kind of sewing do you do on your 78?

Case Goods mostly, Depending what i am making and which machine i decide to play with.....   those machines will sew about 3/8 inch material..... They still stitch beautiful....   

[Ipschnug]

I managed to find some 135x16 needles locally and was able to get the machine to produce some beautiful stitches!  Thank you all for your help.

One new question, the feet that were on it looks to be a piping setup, with sharp teeth that was marking the leather.  The machine came with several feet, do either of you have pictures of which feet you prefer for most of your leatherwork?

 

 

[FresnoFox]

Following this thread because I just picked up a 78-1 for a song. Less than a song really and it runs and sews beautifully. I ordered 135x17 needles for mine but they haven’t come in yet. I’m interested in the feet question though mine only came with one set and it seems others aren’t easily available.

[leathersmyth]

These are the feet that are on my machines. They work for pretty much anything need to sew. They don't leave any marks on leather .