Kenmore 158.19411
 

I found this machine in a local thrift store for $20 (about $20 more than I'm used to paying). I was sold 1. when I popped the top and the drive components were all metal, and 2. because the removable platform for making it a free arm is all metal as well.

This machine is from the mid 70s (that would be the 1970s, so as not to confuse it with Daselby's beautiful machines from the 1870s). I found a very good write up over here

https://pungolivinghome.com/2021/09/...ewing-machine/

(this person also has a write up about oil vs grease in Singer motors and how to tell which is which; I'm going to have to take apart some motors now).

I messed with the hand wheel for at least 5 minutes trying to figure out how to disengage it; turns out it moves in and out. This has the Kenmore super high shank with quick release lever; came with the ZZ and straight feet. There is an adapter available to make it a regular high shank for $15. There is a lever to lower the feed dogs. And it has the dual pulley drive belt system.

I had been looking for a free arm with non-rubber/plastic drive components, and I kinda like these era Kenmores.

They were well made. I have a couple models of Kenmore and they still sew like a dream. Good find for $20!

Interesting machine you got there! I 'm amazed at the drive belts.

I had that exact same machine in the 70's. Either my daughter or my sister-in-law has it now. It was a great machine.

Just an FYI, in case you are looking for a manual, there is one at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/85...l#product-1941

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

Thanks Janey, that will be helpful.

This machine was surprisingly clean inside, really just needed oil. And it sews well.

I inherited a 1972 1410 from my sister-in-law and was gifted a 158.904 from a local person who was done making masks (it was her grandmother's machine). I am a bigger fan of the Vintage Kenmore's than I am of the vintage Singers.
Congrats on your awesome machine!!

The two belts multiply the force of the motor. I don't know by what factor, but if you still have your high-school physics notes or texts around, I expect the force multiplier can be calculated. These machines have 1.0 or 1.2 amp motors and with the double pulley system they have the power to sew through just about anything, and all the while maintaining superb control at low speeds. Kenmore made brilliant machines in those years.

Thank you for explaining this! I've always considered that my Kenmore purchased new in high school (for $187.59!) is the most reliable of all my machines and it has sewn anything I've thrown at it. and never needed to be serviced professionally.

I still have my Kenmore, my first sewing machine, which I bought around 1979 or 1980. I've like it best for making buttonholes, though I don't do much garment sewing anymore. They are marvelous, tough machines! You have a keeper!

Do we know which Kenmores sport that 2 pulley drive system? It's definitely on my wish list. I believe the 158.10400 had it.

I believe there are Kenmore groups on facebook and maybe elsewhere. QB and VSS are as close as I come to social media so I can't help you much more than that.

I have worked on a few of these 2 pulley machines for other people, but didn't really know what it was all about. This is the first I've owned, and just used it yesterday to fix a small tear in a blanket.

JoeJr. Is right about the FB groups. One of them has gathered a great deal of information about these machines and there is a partial list of machines with dual belt systems.

I can tell you that from what I can see the 158 series machines are the ones that have this system and I know for a fact that the 158.17600 has them. I know that because I have that machine.

According to what I can glean, the 158.14 series, the 158.1600, 1700, 1800 and 1900 also has them. These would be the ones made by Jaguar/Maruzen.

I believe the 158.10400 machines have the extra pulley.

That PDF is very interesting. It appears that all 2 pulley machines are 158s, but maybe not all 158s have the double pulleys. Definitely gives me something to work with. Thanks!

You're welcome. I believe that the PDF is a "work in progress" intended to gather information from users. The blanks do no mean that some machines do not have the double-pulley system. From what I can gather, most if not all 158 machines have the double pulley system. What the PDF tells you is that users have confirmed those models are double pulley machines.

And given that the machines such as the 17600 was part of a series, I believe what it means is that all of the machines in that series have the double pulley set up. I stand to be corrected on all of this, but I believe that to be the case.

1.41 what is a C, C1, and C2 in reference to the bed?? Also I wonder if there was a typo for the 185.924 - should probably be 158.924 Also, it looks like something is missing from the date on the 158.1782

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

I believe it had to the do with the location of the free arm, that is whether the free arm was set up at the rear of the machine, the centre or the front of the machine.

I think you're right that it was a typo. I expect it was a 158 and not a 185

Just found a different version with a key:

FB flat bed
FA free arm
C1 convertible, U shaped
C2 convertible, hinged slide
S squared
R rounded

Where do I find the adapter to make the super high shank into a high shank?

Where do I find the adapter to make the super high shank into a high shank?

Here's one that says it adapts super high to low shank

https://www.vintagesingerparts.com/c...r-to-low-shank

This is not the one I saw before, but it also may have adapted super high to low.

Just so we’re all on the same page, “Kenmore” never actually made sewing machines. Kenmore is just the Sears house brand name. They purchased their machines from other manufacturers and relabelled them.

But, the 158.xxxx machines (being sourced from Japan, when they were trying to upscale the “made in japan” label, think: Honda) are widely regarded as high quality units. They’re all a fine purchase and well worth more than 100 bucks used. The market just hasn’t caught on so they can usually be had for very little money, or in some cases, free.

I have several Kenmore’s in my fleet and a later model “ultra stitch 12” is my daily driver… even with several higher quality Singer domestics and commercial models to choose from.

I agree with the one caveat is that there are a few 158.XXXX models that used at least one plastic gear. The 158.16900 is one of those. I don't know whether a replacement gear is available but one way or another, there are so many all metal Kenmores, that I would just stay away from any with plastic in them.

One day the market will wake up to the fact that the Kenmore machines of the 158 series were the machines that Singer wished it could make but couldn't. IMO, there's nothing wrong with the 148 series either. Kenmores of that vintage were brilliant.

3d printing can produce any type of gear you want.

I print out change gears for my Atlas metal lathe and for my vertical milling machine.

They work just fine, they even quiet down the gear train quite a bit.

Don't you need a program or specs to feed into the printer to print what you need? I have a 158.15160 missing the ZZ cam and would love to have one, but if I don't have one to use for specs for a 3d print, how do I 3d print the one I need?

I'll ask Yossarian, maybe he'll know.:confused:

You need to produce the item in a 3d design program, convert it to a printable format and then send it to the 3d printer.

check on thingiverse if you want a cam for a specific model. Lots of guys have already reproduced the file to print sewing cams. If one doesn't exist for your machine, you either have to make it or pay someone else to make it in a program like cad, tinkercad, sketchup, etc.

I'll take a look and see what I can find, thanks.