Singer 253-1 User manual

SINGER
253-1 AND 253-2

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
USE
ONLY
SINGER*
OILS
and
LUBRICANTS
They
insure
freedom
from
lubricating
trouble
and give
longer
life
to
sewing equipment
The
lo/lowing are the correct lubricants lor
the
2111,
253,
IIOOw
and
IIIOw
Machines:
TYPE
A -MANUFACTURING MACHINE OIL, LIGHT
GRADE
When a stainless oil
is
desired, use:
TYPE
C -MANUFACTURING MACHINE OIL, STAIN-
LESS,
LIGHT
GRADE
OTH~R
SI
NG
ER
LUBRICANTS
TYPE
E -
STAINLESS
THREAD LUBRICANT
For lubricating the needle thread
of
sewing machines for
stitching fabrics or leather where a stainless thread lubricant
is
required.
TYPE
F -MOTOR
◊IL
For oil lubricated motors and plain beorings
in
power
tables and transmitters.
NOTE:
All
of
the
above
oils
are
available
in
1
quart,
1 gallon
and
5
gallon cans
or
in
55
gallon
drums.
BALL BEARING LUBRICANT.,
This
pure
grease
is
specially designed for the lubrication
of
ball bearings and
bQII
thrust bearings
of
motors and
electric transmitters, ball bearing hangers
of
power
tables,
etc.
Furnished
in
1 lb.
and
4 lb.
tins.
Copyright,
U.S..
A..
1915, 1939,
and
1950, by
The
Singer
Manufodurln9
Co.
,.;t;_~
·:,
·
AIRlghha-dforal~
20454
ADJUST~RS
MANUAL
FOR
SINGER*
SEWING MACHINES
253-1 and 253-2
ONE
NEEDLE AND ONE LOOPER
TWO-THREAD CHAIN STITCH
AUTOMATIC OILING
SYST~M
CAUTION:
Special
attention
is
called
to
the
lubricating instructions on
pages
4
and
5
*A
TRADE MARK
OF
THE SINGER MANUFACTURING
COMPANY

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
The
imprope"l"
placing
or
renewal
of
the
Trade
Mark
"SINGER"
or
any
other of the
Trade
Marks
of
The Singer Manufacturing
Company
(all
of
which
are
duly Registered
Trade
Marks) on
any
machine
that
has
been
repaired,
rebuilt, reconditioned,
or
altered
in
any
way
whatsoever
outside a
SINGER
factory
or
an
authorized
SINGER
agency
is
forbidden.
THE
IMPORTANCE OF
USING
SI
NG
ER*
PARTS
AND
NEEDLES
IN
SI
NG
ER
MACHINES
The successful
operation
of SI
NG
ER
machines
can
only
be
assured
if
SINGER
parts
and
needles
are
used. Supplies
are
available
at
all
SINGER
Shops for the Manufacturing
Trade,
and
mail
orders
will
receive
prompt
attention.
SINGER
Needles
should
be
used
in
SIN
GER
Machines.
These Needles
and
their Containers
are
marked
with the
Company's
Trade
Mark "SIMANCO.*"
Needles
in
Containers
marked
"FOR
SINGER
MACHINES"
are
NOT
SI
N G
ER
made
needles. 2
3
DESCRIPTION
Machine 253-1
is
a high speed,
one
needle, single
looper,
two
thread
chain stitch,
drop
feed machine for sewing light weight fabrics.
It
has
an
automatic oiling system with a centrifugal pump which
delivers
oil under pressure
to
all the principal bearings. Provision
is
also
made
to
automatically lubricate all
other
bearings
in
the machine.
. Machine pulley
is
made for
¾
inch V-belt.
It
can
be
used for ~
6
inch
round belt when desired.
Needle
bar
stroke
is
1~
inches.
Length
of
stitch
is
from 8
to
'12
stitches
to
the inch.
Machine
253-2
is
the same
as
Machine 253-1
except
that
it has a
needle
bar
stroke
of
I¼
inches
and
is
intended for sewing medium weight fabrics.
The length
of
stitch
can
be
varied from 6
to
'12
to
the inch.
SPEED
Machine 253-1 can
be
driven up
to
a
speed
of
5500 stitches
per
minute,
and
Machine 253-2 up
to
5200 stitches
per
minute,
according
to
the material
being sewn.
It
is
advisable
to
operate
the machines
at
moderate
speeds
for
the first few days,
after
which they
can
be
operated
at
maximum
speed.
The machine pulley
must
always turn
over
toward
the
operator.
SETTING
UP
The
base
fits
into a standard table cutout
and
rests
on
the four
corners
without bolting.
Rasp the
edges
of
the cutout,
if
necessary,
as
the
base
must slide
in
without
driving
and
must
be
located
so that the machine
head
does
not touch Ifie
table
when it
is
placed
on the base.
Use
shims
on
the corners,
if
necessary,
to
prevent
the
base
from rocking.
The
base
should also
qe
level
in
both directions
so
that the oil level will
be
indicated
accurately
by the marks
in
the base.
The machine
head
rests
on
the felt
gasket
in
the
base
and
is
not
bolted
down. The machine hinges
must
not
support
the
head
except
when
it
is
tilted back.
CAUTION: Before starting the
machine,
it
must
be
thoroughly oiled as
instructed
on
pages 4 and
5.

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
111.W
LUBRICATION
Machines
of
Class
253
have an
automatic
lubricating
system
in
which
oil
is
circulated from a reservoir in the base. See
"X-ray"
view
on
pages
12
and
13.
Fig.
2.
Oil
Reservoir
BEFORE
STARTING
THE
MACHINE,
this reservoir, which holds
approximately
1
½
pints,
must
be filled
to
the
high mark H2,
Fig.
2,
with
"TYPE
A"
or
"TYPE
C" OIL,
sold
only
by
Singer Sewing Machine Company.
For
description
of
these oils,
see
inside
front
cover.
See instructions,
covering
Oil
Removing
Wick
Assembly, on
pages
22
to
25.
CAUTION:
Felt
filler
F2
should always
be
in
place
in its recess, between
gasket and
oil
wick,
as
shown
in
Fig.
2.
When
in
operation,
the
oil
level
in
the
reservoir should be frequently inspected
to
keep
it
from
going
below
the
low mark
L2,
in
the reservoir. Refill
to
high
mark
with
"TYPE
A"
or
"TYPE
C"
OIL
The
correct
operation
of
the
lubricat-
ing system
is
shown
by
o continuous stream
of
oil
passing the
window
W
in
the arm
while the machine
is
running.
If
this
flow
should stop, the machine should
be
immediately
stopped
and
not
run
until the
cause hos been determined.
40#
....
Fig.
3.
Oil Row Window
5
NOTE:
Before starting a
machine
which
has
been standing idle for
several weeks, it
is
advisable to remove
the
face plate and
oil
the
needle
bar
and toke-up bearings.
The
automatic oiling
system
will lubricate
these
bearings after
the
first
few
minutes.
NEEDLES
Needles for Machines 253-1
and
253-2
ore
of
Class
and
Variety
149x7
o~d
ore
mode in sizes
16, 17,
18, 19,
21
and
22.
The size
of
the
needle
to
be
used
is
determined
by
the size
of
the thread
which
must
poss
freely
through the
needle
eye. Rough
or
uneven thread,
or
thread which posses
with
difficulty
through the needle eye,
will
interfere
with
the
proper
operation
of
the machine.
Orders
for
needles
must
specify the
quantity
required,
the
size
number,
also the
doss
and
variety
numbers separated
by
the
letter
x.
The
following
is
on example
of
intelligible
order:
"100
No.
17,
149
x 7
Needles"
The best stitching results
will
be
obtained
with
needles furnished
by
Singer Sewing
Machine
Company.
TO
SET
THE
NEEDLE
Insert the
needle
os
for
os
it
will
go
up
into
the
needle
clomp, with the
single continuous
groove
of
the needle
toward
the
front,
toward
the
operator,
then securely tighten the needle set screw.
HINTS
FOR
PERFECT
OPERATION
The machine
pulley
must
always turn
over
toward
the
operator.
Do
not
run the machine
with
the presser
foot
resting
on
the
feed
without
cloth
under the presser
foot.
Do
not
try
to
help
the machine
by
pulling the
fabric
lest
you
bend the
needle. The machine feeds the
work
without
assistance.
The
bed
slide should
be
kept closed when the machine
is
in
operation.
NEVER
TOUCH
THE
STITCH
REGULATOR
PLUNGER
WHEN
THE
MACHINE
IS
RUNNING.

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
6
TO
THREAD
THE
NEEDLE
(See Figs.
-4
and
-4A)
Poss
thread from thread unwinder through holes 1, 2 and 3
of
the thread
straightener, through the tension thread guide
4,
around
the right side
of
the
tension stud and between the tension discs
5,
through
eyelet
6,
down
and
fig.
4. Threading
the
Needle
Fig.
-4A.
Tlnading
Needle
Tlnad
Take-up
from right
to
left
through guide
7,
to
the
left
aero~
the
front
of
auxiliary
take-up
wire
8,
through upper guide
9
on thread take-up
(see
Fig.
4Al,
behind flat spring 10 on thread take-up, through
lower
guide
11,
into
thread
retainer guide 12, around the right side
between
the
retainer
discs 13,
into
thread guide
14,
down
through guide 15,
and
from
front
to
bock
through
the eye
of
the needle 16.
Drow
about
2 inches
of
thread through
needle
eye
with
which
to
com-
mence sewing.
7
TO
THREAD
THE
LOOPER
(See
Figs.
5
and
6)
Poss
thread from unwinder
outward
through hole
1,
Fig.
5,
in
upright
guide, then
out
through
hole
2,
down
through tension thread
guide
3,
around
the right side
between
the tension discs 4, through guide
5,
down
through
I
Fig.
5.
Upper
Threading
of
the Looper
one
of
the holes in guide
6
in the machine bed, then slip thread
into
slot
7,
Figs.
5
and 6, in the bed, and pull thread through channel.
Pass
thread across
the
front
of
wire
guide
8,
Fig.
6,
under guides
9
and 10, and through guide
11.
Press
looper
throw-out
release
T2
toward
you
and slide
looper
to
right.
Then
pass
the thread through hole
12
in
the heel
of
looper,
then from
front
to
back,
away
from
operator,
through the eye 13
of
the
looper.
Draw
about
2 inches
of
thread through the
looper
eye with which
to
commence sewing. Slide
looper
to
the left,
into
sewing position.
Fig.
6.
Lower Threading
of
the
Looper
9
10

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
8
TO
REGULA
TE
THE
NEEDLE
THREAD
TENSION
(See
Fig. 7)
Tension should be
just
enough
to
set stitch
properly
in
goods. Turn the
thumb nut
A
downward
to
increase
the tension,
or
turn the thumb nut
A
upward
to
decrease
the tension.
Fig. 7.
Needle
Thread
Tension
Regulator
TO
REGULATE
LOOPER
THREAD
TENSION
To increase tension on
looper
thread, turn thumb nut
8,
fig.
5,
at
the
rear
side
of
machine inward,
or
turn this thumb nut
outward
for
less
tension.
This
tension should
be
very
light.
TO
REGULA
TE
THE
PRESSURE
ON
THE
MATERIAL
(See
Fig.
8)
The pressure
on
the material
is
regulated
by
the thumb
screw
C.
To
increase the
pressure, turn this thumb screw
over
to
the
right.
To
decrease
the pressure, turn this
thumb screw over
to
the
left.
9
TO
REGULATE
STITCH
LENGTH
(See fig.
9)
To
change length
of
stitch,
de-
press stitch length
regulator
plunger
at
D,
using o
narrow
bladed
screw-
driver
for
this purpose, and
at
the
some
time turn the machine
pulley
slowly until the plunger
drops
into
a
notch
in
the
feed
eccentric. Then
turn the
wheel
toward
the
operator
for
o
longer
stitch,
or
away
from the
operator
for
o
shorter
stitch.
Fig.
9.
Stitch
Length Regulator
When
the desired setting
is
obtained, release the
plunget
D.
Never
press
the
plunger
while
the
machine
is
running.
SINGER
Needles
should
be
used
in
SINGER
Machines.
These
Needles
and
their
Containers
are
marked
with
the
Company's
Trade Mark "SIMANCO.*"
Needles
in
Containers marked
"FOR
SINGER
MACHINES"
are NOT
SIN
Q
ER
made needles. 2

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
l
r
I
10
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR
ADJUSTERS
AND
MECHANICS
TO
SET
THE
LOOPER
WITH
RELATION
TO
THE
NEEDLE
Fig. 10
El!llJ'T.9
(See
Figs.
10
and
11)
The
looper
should be
at
the end
of
its bode-
word
stroke, with the
point
farthest
from
the
needle,
at
the some time that the
needle
bar
is
at
its
lowest
point.
In
this position, the
point
of
the
looper
should be
about
%'.
inch from the
center
of
the needle, as shown
in
fig.
10.
To
adjust, loosen end nut
L,
fig.
11,
on the
pitman bar, then
loosen
nut
E2,
fig.
13,
on
opposite
end
of
bar, turn pitman
bar
left
or
right
by
means
of
nut
M
until
correct
distance from
the
center
of
the
needle
to
the
point
of
the
looper
is
obtained.
Securely tighten end
nuts
L,
and
E2.
L M
Fig.
11.
Setting
looper
in
Relation
to
the
Needle
11
TO
SET
THE
NEEDLE
BAR
AT
CORRECT
HBGHT
{See
Fig.
1
2)
Turn machine pulley
over
toward
you
until the
eye
of
the
looper
on
its
forward
stroke reaches the
center
of
the
needle.
As
the
eye
of
the
looper
reaches the
center
of
the needle, the
eye
of
the
needle
should
be
lined
up
with
the
looper
eye. This
will
insure that the
needle
eye
and
looper
eye
will
be
in
exact
alignment when the
looper
posses the
needle
on
the
loop
toking
stroke.
fig.
12.
Setting
Needle Bar
at
Correct Height
To
adjust,
loosen
screw
N,
in
needle
bar
connecting
stud
and
screw
F,
in
needle
thread
toke-up
and move
needle
bar
up
or
down
to
the
required
position,
then securely tighten the
screw
N,
and
set
needle
thread
toke-up
as
described
at
bottom
of
page
15.
NOTE:
It
may
be
necessary to vary needle bar setting
for
different
threads and materials.

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12
...
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' .
--
,
' .
,'
,
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---
,~'.'\
v1"'v"
, ,
-.
~~:
~~
\
,.,..,_.....cF
13
/II
,.~\
'fir!
'i
I
(
~:
J,;
f
X-ray
View
of
M
Showin
~chine
253-1
g ,
Lubrication
In
Sohd Black

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
TO
TIME
THE
NEEDLE-AVOIDING
MOTION
OF
THE
LOOPER
(See
Fig.
1
3)
When
the
looper
commences its
forward
stroke, the needle
bor
begins
to
rise from its
lowest
position, !See
"To
Time the
Looper
in
Relation
to
Needle
Bar
Stroke",
page
151.
As
the
looper
eye
reaches the
center
of
the needle
it
should be
in
alignment
with
the
needle
eye !See
"Correct
Height
of
Needle
Bor",
page
lll.
During the
forward
stroke
of
the
looper,
the
looper
posses behind the needle just
clearing
the
back
of
the needle.
When
the needle
bor
reaches its highest position, the
looper
completes
its
forward
stroke ond moves from
rear
to
front. As the needle
bor
descends,
the
looper
on its
backward
stroke posses in
front
of
the needle, just clearing
the
front
of
the
needle.
At
the end
of
the
downward
stroke
of
the
needle
bar, the
looper
completing its
backward
stroke moves from
front
to
rear
and
is
ready
to
commence its
forward
stroke ogoin. _
These
properly
timed movements
of
the
looper
from
front
to
rear and
from
rea~
to
front
ore
coiled
the
needle-avoiding
motion
of
the looper.
E2
Q
O p
Fig.
13.
Timing
the
Needle-Avoiding Motion
of
the looper
To
time the
needle-avoiding
motion
of
the
looper,
loosen the
two
set
screws
lone
of
which
is
shown
at
Pl
ond turn the
eccentric
O
until the
looper
just clears the bock
of
the needle on the
forward
stroke
of
the
looper
ond
just clears the
front
of
the needle on the
backward
stroke
of
the
looper.
Then securely tighten the
two
set screws
P.
NOTE:
To
position the
looper
an
equal
distance
in bock and in
front
of
the needle during the
needle-avoiding
motion
of
the
looper,
loosen the
two
set screws
Q
and move the
looper
holder
fork
as required. Then securely
tighten the screws
Q.
t .
I'
..
•
•
15
TO
TIME
THE
LOOPER IN
RELATION
TO
THE
NEEDLE
BAR
STROKE
(See
Fig.
1-4)
Tum machine
pulley
toward
you.
When
the
looper
is
ot
the end
of
its
backward
stroke, the
needle
bar
should
be
at
the
lowest
point
of
its
stroke. As the
looper
starts
forward,
the
needle
bor
must
start
to
rise
at
the some time.
To
adjust, loosen
two
set screws
J,
(only
one
of
which
is
shown in illustration), on bevel
gear
K,
located
ot
right
end
of
lower
rotary
shaft, ond turn
gear
to
make
necessary adjustment, then securely
tighten set screws
J.
Fig.
U.
Timing
looper
in
Relation
to
the Needle Bar
Stroke
Fig.
15. Needle Thread Take-up
TO
SET
THE
NEEDLE
THREAD
TAKE-UP
(See
Fig.
1
5)
The
needle
thread
toke-up
E
should
be
centered
to
move
freely
up ond
down
in its
slot
in
the machine
head
without
touching
either
end
of
the slot.
To
adjust,
loosen
clamping screw
F
which
holds take-up
to
the
needle
bar,
and set the
take-up as instructed
above,
having
it
parallel
with
the face
plate
of
the machine and as
close as possible
to
machine
head
casting
without
actually
touching it.

From the library of Superior Sewing Machine & Supply LLC - www.supsew.com
16
TO ADJUST THE AUXILIARY THREAD TAKE-UP
(See Fig. 16)
The auxiliary thread toke-up G should
be set
to toke up the slack of the needle
thread
after the looper hos shed the needle H -""'="'"•
loop and as the needle bar finishes its G
downward stroke and the stitch is set.
To change the position of the auxiliary
thread take-up, loosen the screw H and
raise
or lower the auxiliary thread toke-up
as required, then tighten screw H.
Cl~
Fig. 16. AuJ<iliary Thread Take-up
TO ADJUST THREAD TENSION RELEASER
(See Fig. 17)
The tension releaser must release
the tension on the needle thread
when the presser
foot is raised.
In case the tension releaser does
not properly release the thread,
loosen set screw V and turn shaft W
over to the left until correct adjust- W
ment is · obtained, then securely
tighten the set screw
V.
( Fig. 17. Adjusting
l Thread Tension RelealM
l
'
"'
17
TO SET THE NEEDLE GUARD
(Se-, Figs. I8 and I 9)
The function of the needle guard R, Fig. 18, is lo prevent the needle from
being sprung
into the path of the looper when the looper is on its forward
stroke. The needle guard should be set as close as possible to the needle
without actually touching it.
Fig. 18. Setting N-,edle Guard
To set the needle guard in correct position, loosen the screw S,
Fig. 18, and move the guard to or from the needle as may be required, then
securely lighten the screw
S. The needle guard can also be adjusted lo
right or left lo clear the feed dog, alter loosening the screw T, Fig. 18.
Needle guard is at the correct height when the loop formed by the thread
in the needle comes
freely out of the needle wiJhout touching the guard.
Fig. 19. Needle Guard Height Setting
To adjust the height of the needle guard, loosen screw D2, Fig. 19, raise
or lower needle guard lo the correct height, then securely tighten screw D2.