Campbell/Randall stitchers

[T Moore Medicine Hat Saddlery]

Wondering what the general feelings are abut the campbell /randall needle and awl stitches for sadales and tack manufacture. Been looking at one a long Time but just haven't pulled the trigger. Sewed on one many years ago but don't remember  much about them . 

[BigSiouxSaddlery]

IMO (and take that for what it's costing you) it is not possible to produce a better looking stitch than that of a Campbell type machine, when they are right.  When they aren't right, you'll want to throw them through the window.  Because there are more operations going at any given time than a threaded needle machine, there are that many more things to give trouble.  If you are mechanically inclined, you will fare better than if not. And of course if the machine is in very good to newly rebuilt condition, you will fare better than if you buy a machine in unknown or very used/abused condition.  A few limitations of the Campbell type machine: throat depth is 9".  This is less than most other heavy stitchers.  Also, they are pretty well maxxed out at 5/8" or a shade over. They seem to sew best and 3/8"-1/2".  For heavier than 5/8", you'd want to consider a highlift, and then you're getting into considerably more money.  You'll have to be constantly mindful of thickness during construction if you plan to sew solely on a standard Campbell.  Inskirt riggings, breastcollar centers, etc will test the upper limits of the machine.  

Another thing I should mention is they seem to be extremely picky about thread.  The tendency of our modern thread to develop kinks after a surprisingly short amount of time sewing will cause trouble between your thread locks, at least that has been my experience.  Still, I have yet to see any machine make a prettier stitch.  

[Wizcrafts]

I have owned two Union Lockstitch machines that both sewed 3/4 inch as built. I learned to tweak them to sew 7/8 of an inch. These are the opposite to a Campbell-Randall lockstitch in that they are needle fed instead of awl fed. Seeing as how the needle is always smaller than the awl, it can flex in thick stacks of leather, dragging back the expected stitch length. However, since the maximum length is a tad over 1/4 inch and most stitches I sewed were 5 to the inch, the loss from needle flex was a non-issue.

As for the appearance on top and bottom, it was better than what I get on my CB4500. Nothing beats a needle and awl jump foot machine, possibly with the exception of a needle feed jump foot machine that has no feed dog or center foot. Ferdinand Bull and Luberto Classic/Number 9 machines were in that category.