Darren Brosowski

Not a 31k as the tension is on the face plate and not the front. Body shape is totally wrong for a 31 class.

That machine looks like a Singer 9 which is the Weeler and Wilson 9 that Singer kept building after they bought the company. It was popular because it was a rotary shuttle when Singer built oscillating shuttle machines up until the introduction of the 101/201 class. There was a rotary shuttle 15 class but they are as rare as rocking horse poop.

I generally suggest oiling AFTER you finish sewing for the day then clean it up next time you sew. ALWAYS run a bit of scrap through first. The first thing I do with every old machine is a good clean up to get the built up oil, lint and crap out of the machine. Pull off all of the covers, take out the presser foot bar and needle bar and anything else easy to put back in. If the machine is really cruddy I also remove the two feed dog bars so I can clean out the bearing surfaces. It might seem daunting but start with a Singer 15 class machine and if you can get that working again then you will have no problem with a 16, 17 or 18 class machine as they are essentially the same. Even the 31 is essentially a super heavy 15

I have an S2 sitting around here and it is a lovely piece of engineering. Normally I try to get machines running but the Reece is not something I am willing to spend time on as it is too complicated and there is no market for them!

The 42-5 and 16 class use the same top casting but the bottom is entirely different. The 42 uses the long beak shuttle

Parts Lists; http://www.parts.singerco.com/IPpartCharts/ User Manuals; http://www.parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/ Service Manuals; http://www.parts.singerco.com/IPsvcManuals/ Note that Singer has made a number of errors when uploading this data such as the "45k101 & 45k102" user manual is actually the 451k101 & 102 manual. Hi Trevor and the other Aussies

Lucky I was on at the right time!

I have seen this before in a machine with a long take up stroke. What you have is a little bit of thread left on the top that the take up lever has not pulled through but the bottom stitch looks fine. The problem has to exist between the tension discs and the eye of the needle. Look for anywhere that the thread could be getting snagged between those two points.

The screw is under the frame - below and to the left of the tension

Steve Bonnet might still have one in stock Barra

There is not a lot to "service". If you are going to get more into sewing machines then I suggest you give this baby a good clean then look for anything loose that can be adjusted. You cannot break it!!!

Where are you based Tim?

Sorry, I was a bit grumpy last night. Not every Singer machine fits the proper nomenclature system!!

It is possible Steve but at that time the majority of production was electric. Most variant numbers specify the type of drive but the sewing machine is just a head that can be treadled, hand cranked or electric so the "-" number really only applies to most models after they left the dealership as the dealer may have had several electric 66's and someone wanted one as a treadle base. The dealer would swap out the balance wheel and drop it in a treadle cabinet. The whole Singer model number system is odd!! A 45k21 is the same as a 45k25 but the 21 has a fixed foot and the 25 a roller foot but the feet are interchangeable so why have two machines in stock that are the same?

Looks like a German built machine but I have never seen one before. Why are we talking about a zig-zag machine on a leather forum?

I have to disagree with Wiz on this one. Most old school saddlers in Australia did the first years of their apprenticeship using a Singer 45k and had to all types of work. I know some older saddlers - and even some younger ones - that can do most of their work on a 45k or GA5/CB2500. In 90% of leather work the reverse side is irrelevant! Even so it is not that difficult to overcome with some light polishing of the feed dog and careful setting of the presser foot tension. The 45k class machines have made more leather goods than every other heavy sewing machine in the last 120 years

ADLER purchased the Minerva factory in the Czech Republic that has been making high quality sewing machines for many decades. I have several Minerva domestic machines and the quality is comparable to anything built in Germany and well above anything that Singer ever built. ADLER has updated the factory and I have no doubt that the machines produced there are as good as anything produced in Germany or Japan. The reason they use the factory is the lower cost of production which probably reduces the price by about 20% over anything produced in Germany. On the other hand I would ask if you need a machine that is designed to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 20 years? There are many machines in the Cowboy range that can do the same job at a lower price. They are well made and we have no issue with them being used in production. Shipping from Australia is not that expensive and we could even arrange direct shipment from China. Have a look at the website; http://www.cowboysew.com/ Email me - darren@ablesewing.com.au if you see a machine that fits what you need

Old stock is the best bet

I sell a slightly different roller foot but nobody really buys them!

It is a standard Chinese 801 style skiver. They are expensive new and much more expensive if you want a genuine German machine.

As with any machine quality of thread is everything. High quality bonded polyester is my preference followed by high tenacity polyester and bonded nylon. Cowboy Bob and others have good quality threads

There is the HSH-1-1 and the HSH-1-1N which are similar but the frame is reversed. I do not think Hirose make the "N" version anymore as it only fits one version of the Singer 11 and possibly one of the Tailor machines so the shuttle in the picture is probably Chinese and worth $US100 retail at most. Several sites are showing this picture and I think it is because China has ed up and is making the wrong shuttle.

Hi Bill, Be careful what you buy as some suppliers are showing the wrong shuttle for the part number. Darren

That is not the correct hook!!!!! The Hirose HSH-1-1 is what you need Bill but the one in the picture is the HSH-1-1N which only fits one Singer 11 class machine.

Ignore Uwe. He is a legend in his own lunchtime