Singer 133K - Information Wanted

[Constabulary]

I recently stumbled over a video of an Singer 133K sewing machine and I mediately fell in love with it

But I can´t find much information.

What I like to know is :

• Which sub class has the walking foot. (I know it has not triple feed as it lacks the needle feed as far as I know). I assume it is the 133K8 + K9 but maybe there are other sub classes with walking foot.
• How high is the foot lift and how thick can these machines sew?

I don´t want to sew leather but heavy webbing.

[Constabulary]

Last weekend was a good "sewing machine weekend", I picked up two machines and one was a Singer 133k3. It is not a walking for machine but this heavy baby will save me a lot of space as I can mount it to the end of my table (had this idea anyway). It has a 12-13mm foot lift which is enough for my work. So my recently restored Adler III has to go again.

Regarding the serial # it was built in 1933. It took at least 4hrs to remove all the dust + oil clumps and old hardened grease plaque from in and outside. One good thing is that I can use the presser feet of the Singer 45K / Adler 104 which I still have floating around here.

Only thing I have to replace is the check spring and the leave spring for the hook retainer (ordered already). One of the former owners "bubba repaired" the check spring with a piece of heavy brass wire - but it works. :D I had to adjust the hook drive shaft a little bit but that was no big deal. I have cleaned out the two gearboxes and filled with new grease and now it all runs smooth (hand cranked yet).

Some pics from the advertising (pics do not tell how dirty it was on the inside), from cleaning and how it currently looks

I should take taken some more but forgot to...

Edited August 28, 2014 by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

Not that it is important but maybe some likes to know. The much heavier hand wheel of the 45K works on the 133K too, you only need a spacer of about 5mm. Only thing is that you have to replace the machine mounted bobbin winder with a table mount winder since the 45K hand wheel is larger in diameter. But the heavier hand wheel will give the needle a bit more punch. The 45K foot lift lever also fits and is seems to lift the foot slightly higher than the original. So I have replaced the original.

Stitch length seems to be 9 -10mm

Few more pictures.

[cdthayer]

Interesting old iron, and your clean-up looks good. In the parts manual, it says the Singer 133K3 is “Cylinder Bed, Drop Feed, Roller Presser, Needle Bar Link, Link Take-up, for Leather Work”.

What does “Needle Bar Link” and “Link Take-up” mean?

CD in Oklahoma

[CowboyBob]

I think the word "link" is just used as a sales pitch they are referring to the fact that there is a link on the needlebar & takeup lever used to run these parts,just like the 31-15 has along with a lot of other machines have.

[Constabulary]

The thread take up lever has an "extra" link and its movement looks somehow smoother when it is going up and down - sound stupid but that how it looks. It also has an extra guidance below the excenter.

@ CD

Yeah - once again old cast iron I of course have painted the machine and now I have to orderer some new decals.

I just want it to look better than when I have found them.

I just have checked ISMCS serial numbers list and the machine was actually made in 1932 (not 133), at that date they made 200 133K and mine was the 2nd in that lot Y8465194

Y- 8465193 - 8465392 133K 200 January 6 1932

I know manuals for the 133K are harder to find but parts lists are not. I have a manuals for the 132K but not for my 133K3 so maybe some one can help me finding a manual.

Some may be interested in the manuals for the 132K (one is for 132B26) so here they are:

Singer 132B26 Operators Guide.pdf

Singer 132K Manual.pdf

Edited August 28, 2014 by Constabulary

[Darren Brosowski]

I've only had a couple of 133k machines.

The first was a 133k13 darner and currently on the workbench is a 133k12 which is also a darner but uses a simple mechanism on top of the needle bar to lift the presser foot.

[Constabulary]

This was the only one I have ever seen for sale in Germany. Can`t wait to see it fully "alive" but I still have a lot of work with the table as I have the idea of using two machines on the tables end (aim is one table, two motors, 4 machines). Belief it or not it came form the City of Bielefeld - the home of Duerkopp Adler.

[VanRhodes]

Nicely done! What kind of paint did you use? Seeing this makes me regret I did not buy the 132K that I was offered a couple of years ago.

[Constabulary]

The paint is ordinary glos black spray paint and even one of the cheapest I have found. But the paint is made by a well know paint company (Kwasny.com) but this paint is more or less a private label brand so it is good quality for a low price . I paid 8€ + shipping for 3 spray cans:

www.ebay.de/itm/190438439289

It is extremy fast drying and covers very nice.

I like the 133K very much - nice large bobbing and rotary hook. Too bad it has no reverse but for the thick webbing It will work (hopefully). I´m also tinking of buying the flat bad type 132K if one crosses my way for a good price. It´s stupid as I don´t need it but I just like these machiens.

Edited September 1, 2014 by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

Decals have arrived, they are very nice but the font is a bit too bold I´d say but still better than leaving the machine blank.

Decals on the lamps were extras. Not important but a nice tiny detail. I also made a new thread guide pin for the middle section. Some pics:

Edited September 8, 2014 by Constabulary

[Singermania]

HI, yes the walking foot machines are the 133K8 and the long arm version the 133K17. I have them both and are marvellous sought after models. They are basically Singer 132K6 machines in cylinder arm form so will sew the same 8mm without fuss. The other variations are either bottom feed only or plonkies that have no feed and are darners. You are correct there is not much documentation.

These are very very good machines, not highly regarded in the States as the K6 is not so popular there, however in Britain, France and Australia they are very much well thought of.

My latest shipment from Europe arrived this morning, here are a couple fotos, there are 9x Pearson no 6, 2x Singer 45K89 walking foot cylinder arm, 1x Textima needle feed cylinder arm, 2x massive twin needle Adlers, 1x Blake insole stitcher, 3 outsole stitchers etc....

..

Regards Steve

[Constabulary]

Hey Steve - nice lot of machines again - where the hell do you get them all from? Isn´t it very expensive to ship them to down under?

9x Pearson No. 6? Holy cow - seems in Australia will be the worldwide Pearson Depot sooner or later

The 133K8 only sews 8mm - are you sure that it is not more?

My 133K3 sews at least 12mm (yet hand cranked) and maybe 13-14mm with an Adler foot as I noticed the Adler are about 1 - 1.5mm shorter than the Singer foot (at least the ones I have).

[Singermania]

Hi, yes the K8 and K17 are designed for about 8 mm, I guess you can push a bit more thru if you were keen. I get machines from all over the world, I have a network of friends and interested parties that help me. Sometime they come from Europe and sometimes the US and Canada. I've lost track of how many Pearsons I've brought out, however I have around 16 here at present.

[Constabulary]

Good to know that the 133K8 sews 8mm, so I don´t have to look for one any longer as my 111w156 sews 9mm and I needed something for 10-12mm and I have found this with my 133K3. Maybe a 45K with reverse would be nice... but first I will try out my 133K and see how it will serve me.

A nice to have would be a box bar tacker for 1" webbing straps - any suggestion for me?

Pretty awesome to know these folks all over the world.

Maybe my Adler III would have been something for you but I sold it already.

[Constabulary]

Was a busy sewing machine weekend - I`m finally done with my 133K3 setup.

Got the Jack servo motor last weeks and puzzled everything together now. I will add smaller 40mm pulleys to my motors but its working well already. The 133K goes through 12mm stiff webbing but it needs some speed but it works!

The 2 machines under the table can be switched with the 2 mounted machines. But I have to make a small frame for the 29K73 so I can use the same wing screws to mount it on the table.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Constabulary

[billybopp]

That's a whole lot o' sewing machines in a compact space!! Well done.

[cdthayer]

Nice group of machines there.

CD in Oklahoma

[Singermania]

Sounds like you've got it sussed. The Singer 132B2B flatbed walking foot will sew to around 14mm, its also a very nice machine. regards Steve

[Constabulary]

Sounds like you've got it sussed. The Singer 132B2B flatbed walking foot will sew to around 14mm, its also a very nice machine. regards Steve

machine works really nice but the feed dog is quite worn so the stitches are quite inconsistent. Seems I have to hunt for a new feed dog or I will try to make one. I have some feed dogs + throat plates for the Adler 104 which "could" be tooled (cutting + welding) to fit for the 133K3.

Or is there a chance that you have a feed dog for me?

Singer 132B2B is something I´d really like to have but no way to find them over here I think - but never say never.

BTW - any chance that you are interested in some ORIGINAL Singer 132K and 133K manuals?

Will add some pictures in the days to come.

[Constabulary]

Some pictures of the manuals. Original 132K and 133K are rare as the hens teeth!

For these 3 I have no use so if someone is interested. I´d trade or sell them.

Now regarding the feed dogs for the 132K and 133K - I have 2 different statements from dealers - one says the 132K feed dogs DO NOT fit for the 133K and the other says they DO fit.

So maybe someone can shed some light on this as I don´t like buying parts "just to try" and then returning them because they don´t fit.

[TeamRuiner]

Thanks for the manual!

[Singermania]

Wow, you've done well, I"ve never seen the manuals for the 133K8 and 17, would be interested in them or a copy. I don't know what I'd have to trade? Regards Steve

[Constabulary]

Wow, you've done well, I"ve never seen the manuals for the 133K8 and 17, would be interested in them or a copy. I don't know what I'd have to trade? Regards Steve

Just have sold the 2 132K manuals but I will keep the 133K8 manual. But I will scan it and post it here sooner or later so you can download it.

I´m still looking for someone who can answer if the 132K and 133K take the same feed dog or if they have at least the same distance between the 2 screws.

[Constabulary]

I just have scanned my original Singer 133K8 to 133K10 and 133K17 manual so here it is.

Direct download link:

Singer 133K8, 133K9, 133K10 and 133K17 Manual