Choosing a Vintage Sewing Machine for Gear Making - Videos on Pfaffs, Singers, Adlers, Durkopps

**squidbilly** · 10-23-2014, 17:09

Originally Posted by ShooTa

do you use them sucessfully ?
i have a singer that ive used for clothes mending but was going to boot up our electric for use on my DIY UQ

I use my Necchi Lelia for everything except bartacks in webbing. That's all you need for making most gear, just a straight stitch machine. For bartacks I use a Necchi Supernova: the tension is set for the heavier thread, and the zig-zag set at low stitch length and width.

The Lelia is mounted on an American treadle base.

20140706_095203.jpg

**thesergeant** · 10-23-2014, 18:00

Originally Posted by squidbilly

The Lelia is mounted on an American treadle base.

20140706_095203.jpg

Awesome treadle setup! That Necchi looks mint and the treadle base looks phenomenal. A lot of people dismiss the treadle setups as being too 'antiquated' but they're extremely capable and are a lot more fun to use that a standard setup.

I absolutely agree with you that most projects can be tackled entirely with a straight stitch machine. For bar tacking I have an industrial 42-stitch Juki 1854 bar tacker that has spoiled me. Very fast, very consistent and very strong.

**squidbilly** · 10-23-2014, 19:50

Originally Posted by thesergeant

Awesome treadle setup! That Necchi looks mint and the treadle base looks phenomenal. A lot of people dismiss the treadle setups as being too 'antiquated' but they're extremely capable and are a lot more fun to use that a standard setup.

I absolutely agree with you that most projects can be tackled entirely with a straight stitch machine. For bar tacking I have an industrial 42-stitch Juki 1854 bar tacker that has spoiled me. Very fast, very consistent and very strong.

Thank you, I love using it. I found the treadle base at an estate sale. It was in poor shape: the base was rusted, the table rotten from water damage, only the two drawers and the machine cover were in decent condition. The drawers in the picture are original, just cleaned up a bit. But, it was different: not the Singer bases that are so common around here. I painted the base and a woodworking friend reproduced the top using 200 year old oak salvaged from a demolition.

I bought the machine because it had the balance wheel for a treadle. They are probably more common in Europe, but this is the first Necchi I've seen with one. After some initial adjustments she sews like a dream.

And yes, I bet you are spoiled by that industrial 42-stitch Juki 1854 bar tacker!

**thesergeant** · 10-23-2014, 20:04

Your friend did a great job on the table top. Very, very professional. For my industrial I made a walnut top and welded steel legs together with brass. I'm about to make a few more actually so that I can have a set of matching tables.

If you're interested in trying out other machines in your treadle you can get a vintage Singer 9-spoke balance wheel off of ebay and install it on any Singer or even a Pfaff. I actually prefer the larger treadle balance wheels on machines that are equipped with a motor.

**Koolranch** · 10-23-2014, 20:25

Originally Posted by SirMarkos

I'm in the market for a 15-91. Just have no idea what I should pay for one.

I picked up this centennial last week with bench, table and accessories at Goodwill for $19.99.

It does need some new wiring however it's not to bad.

**SirMarkos** · 10-23-2014, 20:27

Lucky! What a deal!

**thesergeant** · 10-23-2014, 20:35

That's a phenomenal deal. You definitely want to re-wire the motor, light and replace the original foot controller/power cable. I had a Singer 201 with disintegrated insulation that would shock you when you touched the machine. Here's a great step by step guide:

http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2012/01/co...ted-motor.html

You can purchase new cables, electronic foot controllers, etc. from shop.Sew-Classics.com

Enjoy it!

**Datahiker** · 10-24-2014, 15:59

I have a 1953 Singer 99K that I bought last year that has been sitting in a corner, silently mocking me in an intimidating manner. I've never sewn before and would love some "how to get started videos." I figured out how to wind the thread through, but I don't have the guts (or the time right now) to push fabric through it to see what happens.

**Bubba** · 10-24-2014, 16:20

Originally Posted by Datahiker

I have a 1953 Singer 99K that I bought last year that has been sitting in a corner, silently mocking me in an intimidating manner. I've never sewn before and would love some "how to get started videos." I figured out how to wind the thread through, but I don't have the guts (or the time right now) to push fabric through it to see what happens.

Youtube is your friend. When I started a year and a half ago I watched some different videos such HF member Ramblinrev's series and I also read some how to's on different websites. Some points:

Make sure you know how to properly thread the machine and how to wind and install the bobbin.
Get some scrap fabric and run some stitch lines to get the feel of things.
Examine the stitches to figure out how to set your tension.

Lots of helpful people here.