Constabulary

Agree - Adler 30-7 can sew a bit thicker approx 2mm more than the 29K72 /29K172 But if a patcher machine is a good patcher machine always depend on it´s overall condition - if worn out you will not have much fun with them. If they are in good condition both (Adler and Singer) do a good job - if you put them into the right job Keep in mind patchers are sewing machines mainly for repairing things!

Singer 107wxx / 143Wxx I would guess but don´t ask me for the subclass - cant you ID the oval small brass tag?

you probably have to push the material a bit into the binder attachment - especially in corners. When the binding tape moves out of place I would guess the binding attachment does not match the width of the binding tape. Cork fabric sounds interesting - have to google that!

oh men - I live on the wrong side of the pond...

Original file came from LW member qvt to be fair

A 29-4 is a very very very old machine - it was designed for repair work like patching shoes and boots or sewing rather short seam, sewing in tight spaces and the like. Thats why the bobbin is small. There are also 29K´s with larger bobbins like the 29K31, 29K60 or 29K72. But these machines were not designed for producing leather items though many folks are using the machine for this work - plain and simple these are machine s for repairing things. It could well be that your machine is worn out and you have to replace some parts but not many parts for the 29-4 are available. The "up to date" version of you 29-4 is the 29K71 and you get almost very single part for it but yours is many decades old. You probably have missed this thread:

if you need a good user manual check with LW Member qvt - I posted his PDF sized reduced here but his original file really is much better.

The tension unit on top for the bobbin winder is a quite cheap part you don´t need original Adler part here. I put one of these on top of by BUSMC #6 bobbin winder https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/store/SB3571-1-01-BOBBIN-WINDER-TENSION-ASSY-BROTHER College sewing could be a good spare parts source for you anyway. Hope this help with your hook.

... and if there is no pinion on the top shaft you need that one too but that means disassembling the whole machine and pulling the top shaft.

I already can tell from the pictures that this is NOT a 29K60 - it spears to be a large look machine (like the 29K60) but this definitive is an earlier model. I still bet its a 29K31. The original 29K60 is a large hook machine with removable gear box / horn, it has a helical presser foot spring and NOT the blade spring on the backside of the machine. It pretty much looks like the later 29K72 but with minor differences (thread regulator f.i.) because of cheating customers - probably for "claiming" that this is a more modern model. I don´t say that the last owner did this but seems some one did it. But his plate does not look like a Singer plate at all - it spears to be too high and as mentioned the But you never know... This is how the 29K60 should look like (treadle base is from short arm patcher) http://horsenharness.com/SINGERMACHINEFORSALE.html

To me the 29K60 plate does not really look like an original Singer plate. Would you please post pictures of the whole machine - especially the head from front and back and the hook with open needle plate and hook insert. I`m not sure it maybe the machine has a wrong tag and it is not a 29K60 - maybe it´s a 29K31

Can you post pictures please. Is the busing for side wheel mount present and when you look at the cam inside the machine (top shaft) do you see a pinion mounted on the cam facing right (when you look from the backside through the hole behind the cover plate)?

That was not meant offensive - I just wondered if you want to use it for leather work. You for sure find chain stitches in leather work (on shoes and leather handles f.i.. - Puritan machines are chain stitch machines too) I´m the last who don´t understand if someone wants to keep old cast iron alive I also have a Singer 25-56 chain stitch on my restoration shelf. I already know I have no use for it but I´m just interested in how it works so I followed your work a bit though the 25-56 is totally different.

for sure not what you are looking for but his is my "thread depot". Its from an old cobblers shop and it actually was a rubber heels cabinet.

wondering what you want to use this machine for... I think for most purposes a 301 lock stitch is - well - just better...

I´m sure it would. You need a tension unit the thread is running trough or a complete Bobbin winder which suits your bobbins. Most table mounted bobbin winders have a tension unit build in. It also has to accommodate the huge thread spool. Many variants are possible but depends on how you build the winder. So far my winders all work all very well. I also have to make one for 133K / 132K bobbins sooner or later.

says the chain smoker to the tobacco dealer

Whats wrong with your "ebay binders"? I´m using "cheap" binders too - not a single problem with them. I run ~1mm cotton tape through them. What machine are you using?

Thanks a lot Here is a list of subclasses for the Dürkopp 17 and 18 Class (German language - sorry). I think this list is from the early 1930´s

HOLY SMOKES - what a nice chunk of cast iron. But its not a needle feed, right? I guess its a top feed only machine - though I´m not sure. Would like to see some close up pictures.

uploading right now - hope it will work - as I said I´m no video artist (obviously)

Mike - unfortunately I most likely will not keep it - though the stitch length and the whole machine is really tempting to keep but I do not have enough space for it and I do not have enough work for another patcher. I cannot justify it to myself (though it sucks a bit). Yet no Video but I figured I can sew up to 9-10mm thick material with it. I´m no video artists so I will try to put something together that is worth watching - hopefully.

Indeed! But I had to make some adjustments on the cam that controls the thread lever and the hook that garbs the thread - I ended with 8.5mm when practical sewing and so far no skipping stitches. I think I have to do fine tuning but it can´t be much. I will test some thicker materials too - this is 2.5mm synthetic material. I´m really impressed! I never expected this stitch length from a decades old patcher machine! I mean if you compare this with old Singer 29K´s or Adler 30 of the same age ... thats really impressive!!!