I Just Bought a Patcher. Can Anyone Identify it?

[JJN]

I bought this "Patent Elastic" patcher sewing machine today. I will pick it up on Monday. Its a full day of driving. These are the only photos I have until I pick it up. The photos are not very good, but it looks like it is not a rust bucket and still has a lot of the original paint. It is always a good sign when an older machine still has thread in it. I am told it sewed fine the last time it was used several years ago.

From what I have read on here about these patchers, there were a few different brands that had the Patent Elastic name on them. Can anyone tell me more about this machine? Maker, bobbin size, needle system, maximum thickness & thread and value?

Thanks

Edited March 10, 2019 by JJN
typo

[Egits]

You might check out this link. Looks a lot like your machine.  https://www.naehmaschinenverzeichnis.de/verzeichnis-der-naehmaschinen/claes/

[JJN]

@Egits, that is a great resource. I will be spending some there researching. Thanks for posting it.

I see you live in Ohio. I was born in Parma and grew up in Seven Hills.

[chrisash]

That sir is a fantastic design from the height of victorian design (even though german)and should be in a museum as a piece of beautiful design and function, but do enjoy it to the full

[Constabulary]

CLAES Patent Elastic or Colibri. Needle system should be System 81 or 88 depending on the hook size. You still can buy them. The modern CLAES  8346 are still using these needles systems. Could be that these old machines also came with 3 different shuttle / hook sizes - just as the later models RPX /  200 / 8345 /8346. To my best knowledge CLAES is still using the same shuttle / hook type today. But minor modifications maybe required if you want to use a new made hook in these old machines. Thats what CLAES once told me when I asked for Mod. 200 spare parts a while ago. I don´t know if it was the same with the Patent Elastic patchers but only the largest hook model (-3 or -30 subclass) is using the longer system 88 needles. The smaller hook models were using system 81 needles.

I think LW Member SHOEPATCHER knows more and he probably has some spare parts.

[JJN]

I picked up the machine yesterday. My first impression is it is smaller than I thought it would be. I had to load it and run so I didn't really look at it until today. It is still dirty but I wiped it off a little and oiled the obvious pivot points. I made a couple tension adjustments and threw a scrap piece of leather under it and it made a nice stitch. I am surprised and happy. Super smooth and quite. Here are some updated photos.

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by JJN
typo

[JJN]

[JazzBass]

Forgive the complete neophyte questions...

I've seen such "patchers" before (though few as elegant), but don't know what the particular "niche" is for such a contraption.

(guessing...)
Is it meant to be used as something in between an industrial sewing machine, and say, a big Landis harness stitching machine?
Why is it called a patching machine? What is it meant to "patch"?

Sorry...I'm clueless as to the nature of this elegant machine. A little insight as to its uses etc. would be great  ;)

[billybopp]

Patchers were mostly used by cobblers, and you'll still find one in just about every good cobbler's shop.  They are meant for patching shoes and such, back when folks actually fixed rather than replaced.  The arm is very long and skinny to get into tight places.  The feed is from the top only, and can pivot 360 degrees so that you can change sewing direction while the arm is still buried in a boot or such.   

That pivoting head / feed makes them pretty useful for a lot of odd situations.  They aren't necessarily something you'd want for the majority of your sewing needs, but for those certain situations, there isn't any other type of machine that can easily do them.

- Bill

[JazzBass]

Thanks @billybopp...makes sense. I'm learning. Slowly, but learning!