donimbimbo

My Wife recently acquired her Grandfather's leather sewing machine, a Politype No 1. I stumbled on this forum because one of your members (SteveH ?) is currently restoring one of these machines. Over the past few years I have been restoring old woodworking equipement that I use in my hobby shop.

Now I'm tackling the restoration of this Politype. (all pictures before I worked on it)

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The machine has been sitting in several different barns over the years, also moving from state to state. However, it seem fairly complete with no broken parts.

I have already finished the cast base. Note the treadle says "Politype" and so does the middle support of the base.

The guard over the hand crank says "Politype No. 1" and at the bottom of the guard says "James New York".

I have also freed up the mechanism, lots of PB Blaster and some WD40.

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Taking this completely apart to clean it up will be a challenge.

It is missing the drive belt and a needle. That's where I could use some guidance. I really don't know whether it takes a square belt or round, 1/4 inch or 5/16 inch. I do know it needs to be around 56 inches.

I would appreciate comments and suggestions as I really know very little about sewing machines,

Don