Constabulary

Agree - I just recently set a bunch of heavier copper rivets while replacing carrying straps on vintage plywood pack boards. No way that I could have done this with a hand press and I really have a quite heavy one - not the "Cheap Charley" ones from China. I had to swing the hammer quite a bit to mushroom the rivets. May work with a pneumatic, hydraulic or kick press but I don´t think it will work with a "plain" hand press.

You did not pay 200 for installing this tension unit - did you? It is pretty much is the same (if not the same) you find on 29K, Adler 30, singer 45K, GA5-1, Adler 4, 5 ,104, 105.... Tension springs may vary but they are rather cheap.

I probably got you wrong... That tension unit if for darning (requires and extra device) or sewing waxed or heavy thread, some are using it as guide when winding the bobbing (so do I). The new Adler 30 no longer have this tension unit. You can download a manual for the later Adler 30 here: http://www.bootmaker.com/adlernew.pdf This is a download link for a parts list: Adler 30 parts list

I don´t know what I see there but not matter what it is there is "something" that does not belong on this tension. On this threaded post belong 2 tension disc, a beehive spring and a nut, but nothing else. Just check other Adler 30 pictures. BTW - do you have a manual for your machine? Checking a manual is always a god idea.

post pictures please - not sure what you mean

Typical user questions: Are these small or large hook machines, can they handle 207 thread, how high is the foot lift, can I sew holsters with them, are they tripe feed or drop feed, where cam I find binders? I have problems with the top tension with my KL-504 can someone please help me? Really impressive - sewing technology obviously made a few huge steps in past years. KL-504 -> Transformers are a joke compare with this sewing... thingy. However - some of us still like the old clunkers and some of use for sure like to have all the electronic bells & whistles...

Honesty - do you expect that a company like Schmetz / Groz-Beckert is "simply" making a small batch of just a few hundred needles with a slightly longer grove just for you? Really? As far as I know Schmetz is no longer producing needles in Germany and has been taken over by Groz-Beckert a few years ago. So I guess the majority of GB and Schmetz needles is coming from Overseas sources nowadays. I´m not sure if GB is still producing in Germany at all. A while ago I noticed that new Schmetz needle packs no longer have the imprint "MADE IN GERMANY" it now says "MADE BY SCHMETZ" - hmmmmm ... pretty sure that's for a reason. EDIT: The latest pack does not even say "MADE BY SCHMETZ" .... maybe for a reason - I don´t know.

Holy Crap - thats the manual for the early 51w - the one I have Not exactly the same but for the early one... Nothing new in there but nice to have. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

It´s indeed challenging. Some websites show technical pictures of the most common needles. Finding technical information on vintage needles can be tough. Fortunately I have an old book where needles are pictured in original sizes. Not all needles are shown, just the most common of that time (Book is from the 1940´s I think)

I do not know what 215AH / 657H is but don´t let just the numbers confuse you! Just as a sample: A system 81 needle is not the same as 81x1 needle. 81 is for patchers (Like Claes 200-1, 200-2, 8345-1 8345-2...) but he the 81x1 is a much shorter needle for serger machines (singer 81, Adler 81, Mauser...). Better check the measures! EDIT: just found this regarding 215AH so they pretty much the same as it seems - I guess the 215 AH has a scarf and the Sy. 88 does not (not sure though) https://www.strima.com/215-ah-suk-110-schmetz-sewing-machine-needle-g04-1box-100-pcs/item-309798 EDIT II: My 657 has no scarf but a longer tip than the 88 that's the only difference I can see.

Would be great - looking forward to seeing / downloading it

System 657 is like the System 88 needle but 657 has a longer tip - thats all. They are interchangeable. I somewhere have a pack of 657 I think. Let me check...

A quick google forum search gives you a lot of information about the 51w https://www.google.com/search?q=singer+51w+site%3Aleatherworker.net%2Fforum%2F&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 original needle system afaik is 128 but machine could be modified to accept other / more common needles. I have a 51wSV2 (early model) and I did a lot of modifications now mine is using 135x17 needles. EDIT: Here is an extract from a Schmetz needle list. The 51w40 in particular is not mentioned but you have an idea...

Reg. SD28 There is only 1 machine that needs this particular needle and the machine no longer is in production so its just a matter of time until needles are dried out. However lots of orthopedic / cobbler supplies wholesalers on my side of the pond have the SD28 needles but I cannot buy them because they exclusively supply the cobblers trade and no other businesses - not kidding. I tried 3 times to open an account and they did not sell to me - they do background checks as it seems. Again - a very special needle for just 1 single machine - so why should a dealer stock these needles? Just not enough demand. Even when there are 1000 machines worldwide... Most are ran by hobbyist I think so not really much demand there... But you can ask SCHMETZ to make them but afaik you at least have to buy 10000 needle of 1 size. So even when you are a dealer... 10000 (rather expensive) needles of 1 size for an outdated machine... and then try to sell them - shipping cost may kill the deal when someone just wants 10 or 20 needles or so. So you may sit on them for decades. I do not think it is economic for either party.

Well back then books where like the internet of old times (thats where knowledge came from ) nowadays you find technical data for the most common needles in the www. But of course not for the outdated / no longer in production needles cause no one really needs them anymore except some vintage sewing machine crazy dudes like us. I honestly don´t know what the difference between 1000H and 1000 is. I guess the shaft diameter or needle tip or position of needle eye could be different. Maybe some of the sewing machine dealers here have more knowledge (from old books).

Hope this helps but most likely not much - as I said the 124 and 586 are obsolete you may find some 1000 needles here and there but most are round point I think. As I mentioned in my thread reg. Adler III (linked in my 1st post)) - I have use 794 needles though the machine was meant for a longer needles - so they may work with your machine too when the thread loop is wide enough - maybe worth trying.

No PDF - sorry, the list is old and fragile and page will fall apart when I scan it so I´m sorry! But I´ll a take a picture... System 124 and 586 are outdated and no longer in production I think. System 1000 is most likely the only needle you can buy on the free market. Thats how it goes with 120 years (I guess) old machines. Welcome to the funny vintage sewing machine game

I have an old needle comparison list from METWAR. Based on your measures is could be needle System 124. alternatively I would try system 1000 or 586 but it maybe challenging to find them. I once had an Adler III and have used 794 needles with no problems but I do not know if the machined had a different needle bar

I have a German language Adler5 manual if that helps. Please send me your Email address by PM please. But the Adler 105 manual Bert has linked should help you as well.

The bobbin is bent - really? Please post some pictures of the machine... more details...

I really can´t help here. For me it would just the other way around, if my machine had a puller I´d remove it - so I´m sorry. But Durkopp-Adler (or rather ADLER) also sold the Bernina 217 as Adler 1217 AFAIK - maybe that gives you an idea...

We have very few are sail makers here I guess and pullers are for sure not wide spread in Leather work . But to evaluate "the plate on the back" of your machine some pictures would be helpful.

Show & Tell: Flatbed Table Attachment For Durkopp Adler 205-370 (Version 2.0) - Leather Sewing Machines - Leatherworker.net

I have a 108w20, 143w2 (not 144w) and 107w1 - all have 35 teeth and the teeth are ~17mm wide and ~5.8 - 6mm long on all 3 belts. The spacing between the teeth on the 107w and 143w is 10.1 -10-2mm. I cannot take measures on the bottom side on the 108w ATM cause it is mounted to a table but when I measure on the top side of the upper pulley it seems to be 9.9mm - thats quite close but I cannot evaluate the amount of wear cause all machine have different degrees of wear. I think when the belts where equal they would have the same parts number. I´m pretty sure the 144w belt is wider, I guess like then111 type belts. approx 22mm BTW - in a German sewing machine Forum a guy installed on a 307G2 a new "industrial standard" upper and lower pulley (but he modified pulley bore) and a new timing belt maybe worth playing with this idea

College Sewing in the UK once had Singer 108 timing belts but seems they are sold (parts # 224513) but I would check with them if you cant find them in the US. Maybe you are interested in how I set up my Singer 108w20. I haven linked a parts list and a manual with instructions for replacing the timing belt in the 1st post: