crocee

I found a wooden cylinder of hopefully vintage needles today but they are all different sizes. The cap on the container says 20 40-100. Inside there are a bunch of Organ needles of various sizes and they all have the groove. There are 3 green needles with black tops as well. How do I read the needles to see if they fit something I have. If need I can list all the sizes but I can't take macro shots to save my life, well I can but they sure aren't clear.

Macybaby

"20" indicates the machine it fits - 40-100 is the size (diameter) of the needle. And since I keep the Boye list next to me, 20 is going to be a long needle that fits the older style Davis and White machines.

There is always the chance someone used up what came in the tube and put something else in it too - but if the needles seem really long, then they probably are #20

opps - comprehensions skills slipping again. If they are Organ needles, then someone reused the case - so what is inside probalby has nothing to do with the markings on the outside.

J Miller

Crocee,

Here is a couple links to add to what Cathy said:
{ http://www.ismacs.net/needle_and_sha...ce-charts.html }
{ http://www.ismacs.net/needle_and_sha...lat-shank.html }
{ http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...izes-1950.html }
{ http://www.ismacs.net/needle_and_sha...eedle-list.pdf }
{ http://www.ismacs.net/needle_and_sha...edle-list.html }
{ http://www.organ-needles.com/english/index.php }

Checking these out should help you understand the need for a bottle of Excedrin.

Joe

jlhmnj

Measure length of needle in mm and largest shank diameter and note if flat or round shank. Inspect shank for maker name and / or needle size with loupe or magnifying glass. Record results. The flat shanked domestic needles arn't that bad to ID but the round shanks are much tougher unless there marked with maker name.

Your color coded needles and Organ would seem to be not very old. If they have a flat on one side and measure 1-1/2" good chance there common 15x1. Flat on one side and over or under 1-1/2" fair chance you have a needle no longer made.

This is my thought process when sorting through various old needles.

Jon

crocee

OK in this set I found are the following sizes;
Singer 23xx, this thing looks like a spike due to the thickness
Organ 18
Singer 90/14 common needle that I know what is
Organ 14 x 2 of these
Singer 11 and what looks like a CY
W&WSM and what looks like a 6 but could be a G
Boye 60-80
I can't make out the writing on the green needles because its stamped in the black part

jlhmnj

Need needle dimensions and shank style to be able to attempt to ID by "Class".

crocee

Thank you Joe and Jon. I'll measure the longer and shorter needles with calipers since my scale has gone missing somewhere, probably out in the shop but its dark out there. I'll match these up with the pages Jon sent and maybe I'll have a close approximation of what I have. I'm going to the larger town/city a bit south in hopes of finding other oddball goodies.
I gave $4 for the entire tube and a single needle was worth it to me. I needed the W&W needle for my W&W D9 machine. I also believe theres a needle that will fit my Mason Rotary.

jlhmnj

The entertainment value is worth $4 alone. Mason Rotary uses the common 15x1 like White Rotary. Good to know to be able to distinguish between the antique domestic needles.

Jon

Macybaby

I printed out a scale drawing (ok, I printed it an adjusted size and reprinted until I got it right) to match up length and needle hole for Boye needles. Sometimes the tip is going to be slightly longer for larger needles (like 16 compared to a 10) but the top down to the needle hole is the same.

maggie_1936

haven't a clue