HUGE Champion Stitcher

JTknives

JTknives

Blade Heat Treating www.jarodtodd.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
8,633
Now i think i have found the Stitcher that can handle my leather sheaths. it is for sale here local. he does not have a price listed but says make offer. what should i offer for it. he does not know if its condition but says it has been stored in a covered area and its located out in the real dry part of Utah so rust should be minimal. man it looks like a beast. I have read that these can do like 1.5" of leather easily. it has a foot peddle to control stitching speed down to a crawl. any ideas.

14570349.JPG
 
JTknives said:
Now i think i have found the Stitcher that can handle my leather sheaths. it is for sale here local. he does not have a price listed but says make offer. what should i offer for it. he does not know if its condition but says it has been stored in a covered area and its located out in the real dry part of Utah so rust should be minimal. man it looks like a beast. I have read that these can do like 1.5" of leather easily. it has a foot peddle to control stitching speed down to a crawl. any ideas.

14570349.JPG
Click to expand...

Tell him the truth, you do not know what it is worth. Then tell him you would pay $200 for it. Parts are going to cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars before you have it working right. I have watched Bob Dozier rebuild a half dozen of these and it is not easy.
 
A. G. Russell said:
Tell him the truth, you do not know what it is worth. Then tell him you would pay $200 for it. Parts are going to cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars before you have it working right. I have watched Bob Dozier rebuild a half dozen of these and it is not easy.
Click to expand...

but will it be worth it. to do the work of fixing it. i mean it could be fine and need just a good cleaning.
 
Hard to buy one in fine working condition for less than $1,000 maybe more.
Just my opinion so you still can tell him the truth.
 
I just talked to him and he is real nice. An is real happy thet it will go to a home where it will be loved so much. i told him just what was talked about here and that good ones are hard to find under 1000 bucks. but that i dont know much about them and was wondering what he wanted for it as i could offer 200 as i dont know what would need to be fixed. he says its in good shape and it was his grandfathers as he was a shoe maker. and that it has no rust and everything moves freely when the belt is moved by hand. he is going to take more pictures later tonight for me. but he says that it just needs to have the grease cleaned off and it will look like new. he says he was thinking around 300, I think we will settle on 250. He says there is even a needle still in it. so i will see once i get his pictures. thanks for your help.
 
this might be of some help
this guys is about as old as the machine LOL
call 907-745-3673
he lives in Alaska.
his name is Jay, tell him buzz sent you.
buzz
 
JT,

I worked for several years in a shop that used big Landis stitchers of about the same vintage as our main heavy duty machines. The parts situation could be a issue, it just depends on the model and demand, but with your skills you should be able to build what you can’t find. The ones we used could be temperamental about adjustment and timing, Saddle Harness & Allied Trades Association (www.proleptic.net/pages/shatamembers/) may be able to help with manual/parts list and potential suppliers.

Todd
 
Nabok said:
JT,

I worked for several years in a shop that used big Landis stitchers of about the same vintage as our main heavy duty machines. The parts situation could be a issue, it just depends on the model and demand, but with your skills you should be able to build what you can’t find. The ones we used could be temperamental about adjustment and timing, Saddle Harness & Allied Trades Association (www.proleptic.net/pages/shatamembers/) may be able to help with manual/parts list and potential suppliers.

Todd
Click to expand...

ya that's what i think. i work at a machine shop so making stuff would be simple. i just hate to pass up something like this when i have been looking for a machine that can handle what i do for so long. plus its old and cool, and made in the good old USA.
 
here are some more pictures. i think it is going to need to be taken apart and cleaned good. but could be a good machine when done. So what do you think?
 
Last edited:
sorry guys i tried to link the pictures straight from my email. here are the pictures.

DSC02820.JPG


DSC02821.JPG


DSC02822.JPG


DSC02823.JPG


DSC02824.JPG


DSC02826.JPG


DSC02827.JPG


DSC02828.JPG


DSC02829.JPG


DSC02830.JPG
 
Looks impeccable from here, maybe need to fab a few bushings here and there and a new paint job, but aside from the dust and cob webs, it really looks well under there.

I'd say if you can pay the full $300.
 
65535 said:
Looks impeccable from here, maybe need to fab a few bushings here and there and a new paint job, but aside from the dust and cob webs, it really looks well under there.

I'd say if you can pay the full $300.
Click to expand...

Its funny because it still has the thread running through its guides. ya its just a bit dusty. but cleaned up and painted it would look new. he tryied to turn the wheel and he says it's tight but after sitting for so long i bet all the greese is dry and the dust does not help. The cool thing is that everything is there except the motor which is no big deal.
 
Nice old Champion
1) Campbell-Bosworth rebuild all types of stitchers so should be able to help with parts
2) The Leatherworker.net http://leatherworker.net/forum/ has a special forum for machines and would be another good resource..........

FWIW - most refurbed stitchers go for $2,500.00 + these days..........
 
Wild Rose said:
Nice old Champion
1) Campbell-Bosworth rebuild all types of stitchers so should be able to help with parts
2) The Leatherworker.net http://leatherworker.net/forum/ has a special forum for machines and would be another good resource..........

FWIW - most refurbed stitchers go for $2,500.00 + these days..........
Click to expand...

where there not a lot of these made. it seams very hard to find any information on the internet about them. I have printed out the patent which almost reads like a manual ;) but other then a few hits on google i seam to find nothing. maybe i'm not searching for the right thing.
 
I have a Champion that looks just like the one in your pictures but without the dust. I have used mine for maybe 15 years and sewn hundreds of sheaths with it.
If it were me I would want to see it stich before I bought it. You might be in for a lot of work before it sewed right.
As has been mentioned, replacement parts can be found but they are pricy.
On the other hand, I would say $250 or $300 would be a steal. You could sell it for parts and make a lot more than that.
I paid $1500 for mine, but it was in mint condition.
 
well we have emailed back and forth a few times and today he asked me if i was still interested in paying $200 for it. I had told him that there was a few parts missing but nothing major. of course a motor is needed and it will need to be taken apart and cleaned. so i called him and he said that if i was still wanting to pay 200 it was mine. i was like you bet i will pick her up Saturday. I'm very very excited about this. just thought i would let you know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top