Darren Brosowski

LOL, during the war it is a certainty that Singer would have been making weapons or parts for them! I'll have one too - a matched pair would be better

I think I need to work on my technique Bob as I tend to use a bloody big hammer on most old machines.

Minor issues with both machines. 45k bobbin winder is readily available and I suspect that a 29k (or Chinese equivalent) bobbin winder will fit the ADLER. The 45k appears to have a reduction pulley set so speeds should be good. Both machines are a great addition to any leather shop but as is from a private seller I would not pay more than $1000 for the pair.

Would be using a 20g needle with #92 for a start If the machine uses a 794 needle then it is a long thin needle for the job.22g or lower I would be using a machine with 135X16 needle.

There are two types of bonded nylon - internal and external bonded - and I would not use either as they damage the thread path over long periods of time. High Tenacity or Bonded Polyester are mush less abrasive and have better UV protection

Based on the Seiko CW8B which is the Consew 227R.

ADLER are not interested in the hobby guys like most on this forum. I hope I do not offend Bob, Steve, Ronnie or others but if I was running a machine 8 or more hours a day, 6 days a week then I would buy the Adler. The Chinese machines are good but I am not convinced they are at full production quality yet. Even dedicated saddlers rarely use the 205/441 class machines for more than a few hours per week and mostly that is at LOW speed which limits wear on load bearing surfaces.

I saw an SD28 today - the Pederson version - and as always it was a joy to behold. If I had the money I would seriously consider having a modern version made in Taiwan using a commercially available needle and shuttle.

Bill they are not reproductions. These machines are made from original Singer/Pfaff tooling and drawings. The problem is that sloppy Indian practices have led to everything becoming corrupted over time...... There is something of a revival of interest in old machines in Australia and I would like to think I am helping it along by supplying new parts.

Anyone who has been watching my posts over the lasts couple of years knows that I like to stir things up and get people asking questions. For portability the Boss has no equal. My concern is the huge number of problems that crop up on this and various other forums.

Often when picking between dealers it comes down to whoever is closest amongst the suggested dealers and this is no reflection on the others. In the rare event that things go seriously wrong then the closest dealer is the lowest cost shipping option. A good businessman is not just interested in the machine you buy today. We all know that you are going to have numerous machines over the life of your hobby/business so they want to build a long term relationship to supply needles, parts, motors, etc. It may sound a bit mercenary but we want to build trust both ways.

For the relatively small numbers that are out there I am constantly astounded by how often users are posting problems with the Tippman machines. On the other hand people are buying machines then adding servo motors and reduction pulleys to get them to run at low speed. To make any speed adjustment you need to lean under the table while the machine is active to press a set of buttons. If you want reliability, simple speed control and two handed control of the work then buy the machine you need and mount it on an industrial treadle base. I have watched Jim Beaton run an Adler 205 clone on a Singer treadle going slower than the best servo motor and then flat out. No playing with buttons - just perfect operator control

Anything made in Germany will have labeling to proudly and loudly announce the fact so no label = made in China. Made in EU could be Poland, Czech republic or elsewhere. Some Adler machines are made in the old Minerva factory in the Czech republic and this is not necessarily a bad thing as the old Minerva machines I have are every bit as good as the Pfaff 30. The Pfaff 30 is about the best straight stitch domestic machine ever built so this is high praise.

The machines I have brought in are brand new and my business partner and I specialise in vintage machines. The Indian 130 has been modified from the original design to do excellent (we hope) free motion embroidery so it has potential if the machine quality is ok. Dozens of companies are importing shit quality plastic domestic sewing machines so why can't I throw a couple of new build cast iron machines into the mix?

I think I have the Frankenstein of all Singer 45k25 Machines. It is about 75% Singer but it also has a bunch of parts from India, China and a couple of my own adaptations. You are probably wondering why but it is an exercise in finding parts to keep these wonderful machines running on for another 100 years.

LOL, I have toys here that Steve wants but he isn't going to get them His Puritan is a toy compared to mine and I have more 16, 17, 18 and 19 class Singers than him. We like annoying each other with our latest toys. Steve and I have different businesses but we both love old machines and for me I love the fact that I am is first port of call for obsolete parts.

There are lots of cars in Europe but you keep importing low tech ones from India and China.

Stuff the lot of you - I've been there twice

In the same shipment I have an Indian 15k (very good), Pfaff 130 style (pretty good) and Singer114 (OK - ish) but the 45 is horrible. They have not even cleaned out the casting sand in the top half of the body!!!!!! They started out with the original Singer tooling but have gone backwards in the last 50 years so I think they will be worse in 20 years time. Some parts are ok and I have ordered a number of parts kits as I can use many parts in my workshop. Unfortunately I cannot put most on the open market as I need to individually fit them to machines. The feed crank and adjustment mech is going into a Singer 45k25 I have here. Have ground all of the nasty sharp bits out of the body and when it is fully cleaned up I will convert it to a darner for horse rugs. The needle plates can be used after some mods so they are also on order. I needed to slow down a GA5 and the balance wheel fits perfectly.

I had high hopes but low expectations of the Singer 45k25 built in India. Up until this the worst machine I have ever had was a Chinese built 15k that looked great but didn't work at all. The 45k sort of works but looks like shit and has so many issues but it qualifies as the worst machine I have ever seen. Yes, there are some parts that can be used to fix a Singer 45k but overall it is horrible. If you see one advertised online then do yourself a favour and ignore it.

Wiz is the man. When setting machines up for customers I tend to start with relatively light tensions and let the customer tighten them up to suit. Apart from getting the threads to "knot" in the center of the work there are variations in appearance that customers want to achieve depending on the work they are doing. Tensions are both simpler and more complicated than what is normally discussed

These machine heads are only worth $50 each so just keep an eye out for a spare at the right price.

If you need a portable machine for canvas or light leatherwork (at a pinch) then the LSZ style is one of the limited types out there but for the same money you could pick up a Consew 206RB or a whole bunch of better second hand cylinder or flat bed machines.

A 29k58 can be fixed. Call Bob Kovar.

The patcher always has a place in the leather shop so never get rid of it.