Łucznik cl. 86

After the straight stitch machines time was ripe for zig-zag machines. The first zig-zag sewing machine model produced by the Łucznik "General Walter" Metalworks in Radom was the class 86:

Production started in 1958. The oldest ones that we saw were from 1959, the youngest from 1966. The green machine that posed for the photographs, with serial number K0045413:

Class 86 machines closely ressemble the Swedish Husqvarna 33-10:

Likewise, the feed dogs, the needle plate, the tensionner, and almost all of the mechanisms on the underside are practically identical:

What differs and is, likely, due to Łucznik's own engineering is the hook and transport drive by a 61 teeth timing belt. Husqvarna 33-10 has a shaft.

The body of the machine is made of cast iron, with a small inspection opening in the back, the cover of which also serves as support for thread spools,

The body was most often painted in black with golden decorations. It could also be green, hammered grey or golden. Some late pieces came as two-coloured, with light green main body and with ivory needle-bar mechanism cover, inspection opening cover, flywheel and plate extension (the element under the flywheel with two large holes for passing the foot-drive belt), we also saw one where, in addition, the top part of the body, above the name, was ivory.

Class 86 was usually mounted in a table or in a cabinet. It has a built-in lamp

It has a motor mount and most machines were so equipped. Depending on manufacture time, it was first the Fawod motor with a foot controller (again, two different models) and then the tur motor with a foot controller (one model carried over from Fawod times, one new, U-118, still produced as of 2018!).

Probably also depending on manufacture time, class 86 machines came with two kinds of timing belts. The older ones had a cloth belt with metal clamps (with a repute for overstretching, rupture and teeth loss),

The thread tensionner, facing the operator and, in contrast to the Husqvarna, mounted perpendicularly to the main body, has two independent controls for two threads - class 86 can operate with a twin needle. The black nut controls the black set of discs, the grey controls the grey, but only the black set is opened up when the presser foot is lifted.

The machine has a rotary hook, of the same kind as in many old industrial machines:

Łucznik class 86 was fitted with high presser foots and standard flat shank 705H needles (Husqvarna takes round 16X95 needles, also known as 16X231). The folding bobbin winder is on the upper part of the body, another difference to the Husqvarna 33-10 which has a winder mechanism affixed to the main shaft casing.