I picked up this Singer 78-1 locally from a nice French lady. The machine is an industrial walking foot made August 1910, so it's pre-WW1 era. It was originally foot powered, but was converted to electric clutch motor. I'll be converting it back to foot power. It has an amazingly simple stitch length adjustment, and will be great for making straps and sewing on the GPW binding tape. This machine sews through everything I have!
This photo shows a similar foot powered machine being used to repair a GPW top in France, 1944.
