Jussiemariee

yI have a National Vindex 3? that belonged to my great-great-grandmother and was passed down to me. It is complete and in great shape but I don't have any needles for it. It seems to take a longer needle than my regular machine, and Im not sure what needle to get for it, and if I can even get any needles. I have ever accessory for it, and I really would like to use it. (pardon the dust, it really needs cleaned)

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jlhmnj

Uses a 20x1 needle which are not made anymore but still available from old stock. You can also use your regular machine needle and lower it aprox. 3/16" in needle clamp. Looks like GGGrandmoms sewing machine will clean up very nice and you are lucky to have it.

Jon

Mickey2

If there's an original needle in the machine keep it, it's the best referance point for later. There might be a needle system in production that work with your machine, it has turned out so for Singer 12, 319 and others. The original needle can be carefully sharpened on a fine honing stone to even out the worn tip, but since it's needed for later measurments I guess it's better not to do it more than once. Keep the original needle and draw a red line just below the needle clamp. From needle tip to the red line is as far a regular 130 needle should be inserted in the clamp.

Jussiemariee

I do have what I think is an original needle. It is about .5 inch longer than my regular machine needle. The machine was used regularly until the 80s but all it's users have passed on, so I'm not sure how they got needles.

Mickey2

There's this thread on the Victorian Sweatshop forum, a few over there seems to use this machine regularly. If you search for the needle and it's equivalent numbers they turn up now and then on ebay, but the practical thing is to find an interchangeable modern system, or fix to easily adjust to 130 needles (aka 15x1 or regular domestic).

jlhmnj

You'll find National 20x1 needles on ebay. This was a very common needle back in the day and I'd guess they were made until 20 years ago. The advantage of the 15x1 standard needle is the much lower cost. Boye (brand name) #14 is the most common form of National 20x1 needle.