The Sewing Place

Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: Roger on December 26, 2017, 12:59:23 PM

Title: singer 319/320 bobbin case change
Post by: Roger on December 26, 2017, 12:59:23 PM
Hi All,

I’ve heard a bit about changing the bobbin case on the 319/320 as a way to enable the machine to take 15x1 needles. Has anyone else tried this? Was it successful?

Thanks,

Roger
Title: Re: singer 319/320 bobbin case change
Post by: Efemera on December 26, 2017, 13:18:33 PM
Not much use but she made me laugh..
http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/206needles.html
Title: Re: singer 319/320 bobbin case change
Post by: arrow on December 26, 2017, 14:21:11 PM
Unfortunately not, but I think there are enough info on the web to go by when calculating this. If I remember correctly there were two slight variations on the 320/319 case. For one of them you can order the bobbin case with the larger recess on the side, or alter an original case. For the other type I think there are ways bout it, but it required a different  bobbin case or alteration. I'm can't look it up at the moment.

You will probably recieve first hand info on this because there are a few who have taken these two models ot heart and use it as their main machine.

Helen Howes' post is probably spot on when it comes to pushing the machine beyond its' limits, but it's still suppose to be quite a tough machine. Maybe keep a model 15 for the most experimental jobs like stitching through tin cans, mdf and just slightly too many layers of bull denim. My 201 is very well behaved as long as I can up the needle size sufficiently.
Title: Re: singer 319/320 bobbin case change
Post by: Roger on December 26, 2017, 15:19:30 PM
They’re not very practical machines, but they are gorgeous looking and supposed to be very strong and have a lot of nice stitches.

I stocked up on 80/90 needles as even they are getting scarce.

This is the article that got me interested; http://andrewcaddle.com/wordpress/singer-206-306-319-320-alternative-bobbin-case-available/

As Helen says they are not terribly practical and are a bit obsolete now. I’d like mine to be useable even if it’s not the everyday machine... that’s my 500 :)

Title: Re: singer 319/320 bobbin case change
Post by: arrow on December 26, 2017, 15:41:15 PM
I guess the early zigzaggers developed a more user friendly design with the newer models. Singer largely went for the horizontal drop-in bobbin case (class 66) and still do.

I haven't sewn much on a 319, but I have read quite a few complaints on them the last three years, most of them seems to have been sorted out. Two individuals in Australia, quite a few in the US. as well as UK. A member on this forum (or TSF) had more than a few cases of their machine getting knocked out of timing. Some had problems with replacement parts, but found them with a bit of search on the web. I once mentioned in a post they never became as popular as the Pfaff 130 or the later 401, but at least three people responded to the contrary and let me know they were one of their most solid machine and in regular use. I still have an eye out for a Bernina 117 even if they went out of production by the early 50s  :- )
Title: Re: singer 319/320 bobbin case change
Post by: Efemera on December 26, 2017, 15:45:03 PM
I’d like to think my 306 will still be usable...I’ve bought a bobbin case but have yet to try it
Title: Re: singer 319/320 bobbin case change
Post by: Roger on January 02, 2018, 07:25:17 AM
Had a chat with a local OSG apparently his experiment with his 319 and an alternative bobbin case was very successful

Experiment with bobbin case went well. A simple search on google and youtube, reveals a bobbin case that will fit and allow standard singer needles to be used in all pattern modes with no timing adjustments needed, I think this is to be a riccar 806 bobbin case or bobbin case number 541678-NBL  this also fits a singer 20U . Obviously check it out for yourself first. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on. “

Admittedly I’ve has trouble finding anything on google except Andrew Caddles article. That recommends the Riccar case.