Union Special 63900 A

[Brtz]

Hi,

I found Union Special 63900 A yesterday. As its price was about USD 40, I couldn't not buy it. It seems to be in a good condition for a first view. 
I know it's for light or medium fabrics, not for leather but need to ask about backtack feature of this machine.
I read in the adjusting manual: '... the tension release should be set so that it will be not release when sewing over seams or when the presser foot is raised for back tacking...'
Does it mean that this machine can backtack? I can neither find any lever or button to switch the machine to the reverse feed nor to find in the manual how to backtack.
Regards, Bert 

[chrisash]

Sorry cannot answer your question, but the designer of that machine definitely had some style rather than the ugly machines before and after by other makers

[Uwe]

 When you manually back-tack you slightly raise the feet to turn the material around 180˚.  What they mean is that thread tension should not release when you lift the feet only slightly for that purpose.

Some chain stitch designs are technically incapable of sewing in reverse (and it's not a question of reversing material transport like with lockstitch machines.)This has to do with how the thread loops/triangles underneath are formed. On some chains stitch designs the chain can only form if the material moves in one direction.

 

[DrmCa]

This is a lock stitch machine.

The feature prevents thread from being pulled through when turning the product around for back tacking. This is a lame attempt compared to adding a reverse lever IMO. But for $40 this is still an Okay machine.

[Brtz]

Ah, OK! manually backtacking by turning the good - thanks all of you!

Bert,