Constabulary

The tension assembly should be the same that Pfaff uses on most of their industrial machines. This one will work: www.ebay.com/itm/290790180777

This is a Pfaff 28 it more or less is an updated version of the Singer 17 and it uses a very tiny bobbin and the same hook as the Singer 17. it is a drop feed machine - no walking foot. You can adjust the stitch length with a lever underneath the top arm. I once had one of these when I was on the hunt for a cylinder machine. Most Pfaff 28 are setup for just a size 18 (as mine was). But there are subclasses which are for thicker meddles. It is a nice machine but not meant for heavy work and the tiny bobbins is not really an advantage. I have an English manual for the machine. I will attach it so you can check the details and subclasses. Pfaff 28 Manual - English.pdf

I also never heard of them but it is a clone of the Pfaff 335 and was originally set up as a binding machine as it still has the attachments as it seems.

And once again I have learned something! I think I never have seen a 29 w/o the K and subclass on this side of the pond. Thanks for the update Wiz

Some progress... I decided to paint it Olive Drab (a whole different thing but I like it), I have blued the gear box with Gun Blue and I have highlighted the lettering with white paint. I ran out of OD paint so the head will be painted and assembled in the days to come... As you can see - no rust on the head parts and yet I have only used paint thinner to clean them. I hope it will make some nice stitches. I was not able to test it as it was covered and gummed up with pink hippie paint. So it´s a bit of a gamble this time.

Another member is in the same situation - check his thread: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=58911 I think $800 is WAY too much for this machine as it could be older than 100 years if it is a 29K1. Due to the ornamentation I would say it is from the early 1900 - 1930´s but thats just a guess. Check what subclass the machine has. If you have the serial number you can also check how old this Singer is. Restoration of a patcher sewing machine is not very difficult. I´m just in process of restoring my 2nd patcher machine but it is an Adler 30-1. My 1st one was a Singer 29K73. It´s about the same machine as yours but much younger and technically a bit more ahead.

Sorry - I meant 6 SPI or less (not more). With other words 4mm or longer stitches! If the stitches are shorter than 4mm when adjusted to the max. stitch length I would not buy it!

But the Singer 17/18 have extremely small bobbins and I´m not sure if they can handle anything larger that 138 thread. I think a roller foot machine with post bed or cylinder is a good choice for these tiny shoes. Get in touch with Toledo Sewing Machines if you want a Cowboy machine. They also have used machines and maybe the used ones will meet your requirements and they often can save you some $$$. Toledo Sewing has banner on top of this page. I like the shoes with fur very much - really cool shoes!!!

This seems to be one of the earlier types w/o quick release for the hand wheel for winding bobbins w/o sewing and w/o the large hand wheel retaining screw. I´d check what subclass it is. If it is a K1 it could be older than a century. From what I see it seems to have a flat "blade" spring on the back side and not the small helical spring in the head so this narrows it a bit. As far as I remember the helical spring started with the 29K51 so everything with a lower subclass has a blade spring on the back - I hope that I'm right with that but thats what I have observed but I´m not 100% certain. The overall condition looks not too bad. But I´d be careful with machines that have worn off the paint in the gearbox era and with machines with worn off decals.. That shows that they have seen a lot of use and so the stitch length could be much shorter. But as it is in Australia the decals may wear off faster because of the climatic conditions. But I don´t know if this is the case. Old machines often do not have the full 5SPI stitch length so when the machine is producing 6SPI it is okay but If it is more (like 7 or 8 when adjusted to 5 SPI) I would not buy it as the parts are worn and finding parts for the older 29K could be an issue. But on the other hand you have Singermania and Darren Brosowski in country so maybe they have parts if necessary. I know the sewing machine prices are high in Down Under but I would only buy it if it makes 6 SPI or more. I´s try to beat down the price - maybe 450 - 500 AUD IF it has a good stitch length.

@ Billibob Well - no! Making new decals and finding a buyer who appreciates these details will not be easy I think. I already have a 29K71 and I have no space for a 2nd patcher so it has to go when I´m done. It will look different but not pink again

I found this "Pink Beauty" at a shoe shop. They once used it as shop window decoration but the new owner had no use for it. I could not refuse to buy it as it cost me just 26€ (after some negotiation). I was not sure if would be worth the pain to restore it but at least spare parts would bring more than what I have paid. It came with a nice shuttle and 5 small bobbins. Sunny afternoon today and I took the chance to wash down the pink hippie paint from the head and it worked great! It took me just 45 minutes to remove it. And what have I found on the backside? A decal that reads KRIEGSAUFMACHUNG and below that the French translation. Kriegsaufmachung means something like "Wartime Design". Holly cow - this thing must have been made between 1939 and 1945. I assume after 1940 as the decal had a French translation on it. I never have seen this before. Unfortunately I has not able to safe the decal. The machine turned out quite nice - not much rust or sticky oil on the parts just the gear box cover has some surface rust. I hope this thing will sew when I´m done. Some pictures

Bobbin winder is sold. I unfortunately cannot remove the listing for it.

I take Paypal payment if you have an account. Shipping would be $8 for registered Airmail and since you are in NJ you should have the package within 10 days or so. I´ll send you an email for for the details.

The presser bar should have a small pin which has the diameter of the inside diameter of the rivet - hope this helps I think you could get 80€ - 100€ for it

Yes, mine is unwaxed and it is about the same thicknesses as 138.

I don´t want to confuse you! I just have my very own opinion regarding Chinese made machines but again - I don´t say they are bad! Especially when you buy them from dealers with a good reputation. And a 441 clone is the one I´d go for if I were you! You just have to decide where you buy it. If I where you I´d look in your era first (Ireland or UK) and if you find nothing or it is too expensive I´d look on the continent next because of not having to pay the import duties as you are buying inside the European Union - if you know what I mean.

I`m currently using some old stock 25/3 linen thread from the 1940´s in my Singer 111G156 (top + Bottom) and it works great but I´m sewing webbing and not leather. But when I´m going to fast the top thread brakes. Anyway - works good at slow speed! But I thinks this brand is no longer available.

Sieck sells internationaly, they often have machines you don´t find elsewhere. I know the LW member TROX (from Norway) bought from them as far as I remember. I personally have not bought from them as I cannot spend big $$ for this hobby therefore I have bought ALL my machines used and have restored them by my self. I´m a so poor boy ** just kidding ** - I just like restoring these old machines. It´s worth keeping them alive or put them back to life and I NEVER failed with one of my old machine - they all run smooooth. I have sold some of them again because I figured they do not meet my requirements or I just have found a better one but it was fun working on them and I have learned a a lot. But thats a different story! I think Sieck is doing a good job and at their 441 Clones they do have a good competitive price if the prices include VAT. But I don´t know for sure if their prices include VAT already but if yes you can discount 19% (the German VAT) but you probably have to pay the Ireland VAT when you import them but I don´t know how Ireland handles this. But thats something you should ask the dealer. I think they have more experience with these things. Regarding the 133K - I have restored my 133K3 as you noticed already. Yet I have only hand cranked it. Just yesterday I have ordered a new Servo Motor from College Sewing so I cannot tell you much about how it is sewing. So far it is hand cracking very nice but I had to do some more adjustments recently as it skipped stitches but I have solved it by adjusting the hook shaft. Mine has NO walking foot! The 133K8 has a walking foot and there is a nice Video of it on YouTube. Harry Rogers made it (nice guy btw). I don´t know if the 133K8 will meet your requirements. I bought mine because I needed something that sews more that 9mm / 3/8" and my 133k3 has a 14mm-15mm foot lift. For everything else I use my Singer 111G156 and that old "clunker" is also still running perfect (its from the 1950´s). But the 133K8 with walking foot has no such foot lift. It has just 8mm as LW member SINGERMANIA said. Technically the 133K is quite unique as it has an extremely large rotary hook - thats very nice! The bobbin is even larger than the one of the Singer 45K or Adler 105. I have to admit that it thus far was the most difficult machine to adjust but overall the nicest as well. The problem was (or is) that you do not find much documentation online. I have not stripped the entire machine so I cannot tell you many details but I really love it and I´m sure it will work great! Mine is from 1932 (my mother was born in 1938) and the machine still runs smooth (my mother too ). So I think that tells a lot about the durability of the machine and you still can find parts for them. It is even easier to find parts for it that for any heavy duty Adler sewing machine. I have to say that I´m not a friend of making dozens of phone calls just to find parts - I love to order them online. Thats one reason why I´m a big Singer fan as you can find a lot of parts & accessories online and even for a relatively good price - though I come from the land of Pfaff´s and Adler´s. But the spare parts prices of Adler and Pfaff parts are ridicules high here. BUT - I think the 441 clones are one of the most versatile machines and they you are doing serious business I think it will be the better choice. I personally do not like the Chinese made machines but thats just my personal attitude, I don´t say they are bad - I just don´t like these uniform looking white painted things. And I don´t think they will last as long as my Singer 133K but thats something the time will tell. The 441 clone is the only one I personally would buy as a new machine. I think every other machine for the leather business can be found used for a much lower price. But keep in mind that restoring a machine can take a lot of time (and sometimes money) and it can happen that you buy a boat anchor - if you know what I mean. But restoring a machine can also safe lot of money - all my machines where unrestored below 120€ (cash price w/o gas). The 133K3 was just 60€ but I had to travel 120Km one way and I had to buy some new parts but overall incl. the motor which is on the way I paid about 250€ - thats still a bargain compared with what dealers in the UK ask for them. I can go on with this... But again - thats my personal opinion and it always depends on how fast you need the machine and how the market for used machines is. Sometimes you just don´t find the machine you need in used condition...

I should read more careful - I just noticed you are from Ireland. I don´t know many Sewing machine Co´s in the UK or Ireland but maybe the continent is an option for you. I recently noticed that Juki 441 clones are available from Germany as well. http://www.sieck.de/en/machines/sewing/saddlery-machines/

No matter what brand, class or subclass of sewing machine you will choose I´d always look for which machine you can get the widest range accessories and attachments. And that will always be a machine that takes the Singer 111 type foot. I´d personally choose the Consew 227R3 or Juki LS-1341. BUT with the Juki 441 you will be on the safe side and this one can sew everything and you still have potential if you have to sew something heavier than the above mentioned. If you wan to safe some $$$ I´d choose one of the Juki 441 Clones for example from Toledo Sewing the Cowboy machines. They also have a 227 type machine. http://www.tolindsewmach.com/cowboy.html Or one of the other dealers who have banners on top of this page.

Okay, I had these manuals already, I though you have something "new" or different. But thanks anyway. Very very impressive collection!

any chance that you can make a stamp for me - well depends on how much you´d ask for it I´m not really making holsters but I sometime come across some really nice original M-1916 holsters from WWI and WWII but some of the stamps are quite "faded" so I would be great to have a tool to give them back the original appearance.

Yes, I´m German. Sometimes my fingers are faster than my brain so I often mistype "things" which I often enough notice too late. But thanks for the compliment But I also would bet that you are not a French native, right? College Sewing is great, you also can open an account and order online. The shop is not intuitive sometimes and sometimes you rather find items when you enter a search word instead of going through the categories. But I like them very much and sometimes it is even cheaper for me to order in the UK than in Germany. A bit strange but true.

Since you are from France, please keep in mind that you probably have to deal with the customs when you order from the US and you have to pay EU taxes and custom fees. College sewing is located in Great Britain and since GB is member of the European Union you don't have to pay taxes and custom fees. I had good experiences with College Sewing, all order have arrived within 5-6 days. And my next order will be in the pipe very soon.

Subclasses are often a bit difficult to determine by just the numbers but Universal Sewing has a lists of subclasses for the 1245. Direct download links: 1245 Subclass Old Cas.pdf 1245 Subclass.pdf