Landis 12 G Outsole Stitcher moving, cleaning, partial disassembly, resurrection

[AlizabethThomas]

After a few months of looking, I found an ad on FB Marketplace from the daughter of the owner of a Landis 12 G outsole stitcher. There aren't a lot of these for sale in my area because Oregon is just pretty sparsely populated. He got it from a neighbor who was basically a hoarder from his description. It came with a bunch of other parts including both shafts from an old Landis line finisher. There aren't a lot of forum posts with details on how they come apart or how to move them and what to plan for.
I hope to provide the online shoemaking community knowledge base with a chapter on getting an outsole stitcher into your shop. Here's the machine before it made it's way to me. The father, owner of it was coming down from Idaho to get a full beef order from a rancher, and so out of state delivery became possible for just $800 for all the stuff. 

 

[AlizabethThomas]

I got it unloaded in my workshop building's bay using the hoist and figured out what needed to be disconnected in order for the head to come off. I had looked at a more recently operable machine locally for $1500 while buying other equipment so I was able to talk shop a little with that guy, so I knew about the two big bolts holding the head on. So I disconnected all the heater wires and found out how to remove the conduit routed through the center of the main cam under the cover. I reached the two smaller bolts connecting the "chin" to the front side, and the giant bobbin winder bracket also came off. The foot pedal linkage was removed. After that, it was hoisted back into my truck to drive it to my workshop in the back of the building's lower level.

 

 

 

Edited March 28, 2021 by AlizabethThomas

[AlizabethThomas]

Using a ladder with a couple of pipe spacers for the ladder rack, some reinforcing angle iron and a chain hoist with seatbelt straps I sewed, I was able to somewhat safely(?) lower the base and the head. Building one heavy duty cart for the heavier base with (4) 330lb. casters, and utilizing another prefabricated one for the somewhat lighter head, I was able to get it all inside over the course of 10 hours, with lots of leisurely breaks, but no breaking of a sweat. Except for a bit of a cramped hunched back, I felt fine.   

[AlizabethThomas]

Cleaning is underway, mineral spirits and some nylon bristle brushes of various stiffness. I bought an unrelated product in a spray bottle as it was the only form available, so I repurposed that bottle to apply the low odor mineral spirits. It is much faster than my dipped brush application, and necessary for the stiffer brushes as they don't hold very much liquid when dipped. 

[AlizabethThomas]

Front looking good, now to rotate and get the sides and back. After that, I'll have to move on to the construction of a miniature gantry hoist frame, about the size of a large door, and tall enough to at least get the base off the cart. That will also be tall enough to get the head on after that. Putting the head on while it is still on the cart would be taller than I need, the finish on the concrete in here isn't great, and the machine can be scooted around on concrete, I found. If I had known that prior to setting up the purchase, I could have spent $200 on a forklift rental and put it in the door, but I still would have had to move it off the pallet, necessitating the setup I am about to build. I also could have transferred it onto the forks and slid it in the door that way, but I can't think of a sure way to not have a slippery accident, so I'm doing fine on efficiency. I'm glad I cleaned between the head and base, anyway. 

[DJole]

What an absolute beast of a machine! Good to see it slowly coming back to life. 

[AlizabethThomas]

I got to building the again somewhat safe bookshelf-gantry. This comes from the whole treehouse building feels-right building style. you know, hang off of it, like test it while listening for cracks, that kind of thing. 

[AlizabethThomas]

I noticed the driving pedal was missing, and none of the boxes of stuff turned one up. I turned to the FB group for cobbler equipment for sale, and got a couple responses. One company, Gateway Shoe Machine had one but it was $132. I told that guy "that's a lot", he justified the price, I said, I know, I get it, but I know how to fabricate too. Another couple of guys had some, one was in Canada, so that was a long shot. The other one in Colorado, for some reason I didn't see or get his response on price until after I had built mine. I really wanted someone to stop me, I was at the metal yard and then to the hardware store, frequently checking my FB from my phone to see if anyone had commented. I spent the rest of the day on the pedal build. Lots of grinder work. $28 in supplies, mostly in the set screw locking collars ($10.69 ea.). Nice compound curve on 2 pieces. Fully welded rib underneath. When I got back to find out I could have had one for $70 shipped, I felt like my day was a little less valuable than the time before, but I just thought the other two guys also wanted close to $132 plus shipping after I mentioned that price and said "I already have a headache from the mineral spirits!". I have since trimmed off that rib segment sticking out the back and smoothed the edges underneath. Might accelerate the rust to match the other one. The proportions are pretty exact, it doesn't reach out quite as far as the original in the picture. 

Edited April 1, 2021 by AlizabethThomas

[YinTx]

 

Thanks for posting the process, look forward to seeing the results over time!

YinTx

[Aven]

29 minutes ago, YinTx said:

 

Thanks for posting the process, look forward to seeing the results over time!

YinTx

What he said.