Evo160K

Looks great, well done.

PMCREATIONS, You might experiment with wiping the metal surfaces with minerals spirits. I find it protects them from rust almost indefinitely, plus they can be painted at any time... after dusting, of course.

Well done. I've never tried WD-40 as a rinsing material. When you say, "and oiled it to finish", do you mean all of the surfaces to bring up a shine or just the moving metal-on-metal surfaces (as usual)? Restoring these old machines is such a blast! My second favorite thing.

PMCREATIONS, Beside the Gojo, what else did you use for cleaning? Looks good!

LizO, Singer 111W service manual (including threading) http://dixiesewingmachine.tzo.com/MANUALS/SINGERSERVICE2/111W152,153,154,155-inst.pdf Singer 111W155 parts manual http://dixiesewingmachine.tzo.com/MANUALS/SINGERPARTS6/111W155.pdf Singer 111W155 parts manual (better copy) http://dixiesewingmachine.tzo.com/MANUALS/SINGERPARTS6/111W155!.pdf

Steves, That sure seems like a good deal! Any pictures?

PMCREATIONS, Your originals words: This is my first industrial sewing machine and I just would like some advice on how to get this thing into the best shape it can be. What cleaners do you recommend or should I just find a shop to service it? If you actually want to get the machine into "the best shape it can be", you'll get a few more ideas from this LW restoration thread: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/83226-first-try-at-japanning-on-a-restoration-project-the-conclusion/?tab=comments#comment-561233 If it were mine, first I would do the Gojo thing all over to see what's uncovered. If it still looked promising, I would brush Kleen-Strip mineral spirits onto the moving parts. After it dried, I would oil all of the moving parts, then see if maybe it would turn over properly and perhaps do a stitch. At that point, not being a sewer, I would have someone knowledgeable look at it and give an opinion about the feasibility of going further with a restoration.

Once it's set up, electrolysis works well. I've use an assortment of WD40, wire wheels, abrasive papers, metal files, abrasive stones and the like depending on the piece. The wire wheel is generally my first choice. You might find other choices with a google search. Also check some of the documented restoration projects on LW by member Constabulary and others.

When I've been faced with similar situations, I've removed the easy stuff like tension assemblies, etc. then slathered the painted and other substantial parts with Gojo non-pumice hand cleaner. Let it sit for about 45 minutes then wipe if off with paper or cotton towels. This does a surprisingly good job of removing surface dirt and oil., so you can see what you have. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjhnzfmuLgg

Good catch, Wiz. Do you think the machine was modified from an 11-13 or misidentified in the eBay ad as an 11-13?

You're welcome, mikesc. Here's an 11-13 for sale https://www.ebay.com/itm/Singer-Industrial-Sewing-Machine-Model-11-13-/152090816956

Try this one http://dixiesewingmachine.tzo.com/MANUALS/SINGERSERVICE/11%20Inst.PDF

JJN - thank you for the positive comment. Paloma - what about your Durkopp Adler 69-373 makes it your favorite? Mikesc - you may be correct about the SEO. On the other hand, if the thread is successful, the SE's should find it. In the meantime it will be interesting and helpful to the members and the advertisers. Pictures of favorite machines from the knowledgeable members like Wizcrafts, Singermania, Uwe and the others who have been in the business for years will move the thread forward.

Ouch! Is the idea so without merit it doesn't even rate criticism?

Managers, Members, What do you say we start a topic where we show pictures of our favorite machine(s) and tell a bit about how we acquired them, use them, what we've done to them if anything to make them our favorite(s) and anything else about them that's interesting and unusual. Seems it would be fascinating to those of use that enjoy seeing and working on machines, especially older machines. In addition the large volume of information that would be developed and stored in one thread could be a wonderful resource for those to follow. It could even attract people to our website and our banner advertisers/supporters. Your comments?

Good modification. What thought process lead you to do that?

Wiz, thank you. Yes, the side seams do look like pleats. The wife likes that look. Hopefully someone will have an LV Artsy bag and be able to take a picture.

Thank you Wiz, that's extremely helpful information, great detail. We weren't sure how it all went together. Thank you. We're particularly interested in how deep the folds are on the ends . We suspect the lower portions of the folds go in as far as the double-felled seam on the bottom that you mentioned, We're not sure how deep the upper portion of the folds are which is why we think a picture will be helpful.

My wife recently bought a beautiful piece of Campolena leather in Latte color (first picture) and wants to make a handbag with it. She would like to duplicate the folded treatment that you see on the end of the Louis Vuitton Artsy bag in the next picture. Would someone who has or someone whose wife/GF has a Louis Vuitton Artsy bag please take a picture of the bag with the fold held open to show the sewing detail? Thank you, thank you very much.

Are you able to post a pic or two? Btw I have an 8345-30...... I believe.

Restoring these fine old machines is becoming more and more difficult. Authentic Simanco parts are near impossible to find. Thank you for any assistance.

Tardis86, These may be useful: http://dixiesewingmachine.tzo.com/MANUALS/SINGERSERVICE/15-91-Adj Manual.pdf http://dixiesewingmachine.tzo.com/MANUALS/SINGERPARTS/15-91.pdf http://dixiesewingmachine.tzo.com/MANUALS/SINGERSERVICE/15 Class-Inst.pdf

Jimi, so you don't think the spool is automatically feeding the "bobbin"?

Jimi, we're okay here, thank you. Hope you're the same. That's some unusual job specific machine pictured in your link. Is that lower spool of thread continuously feeding the bobbin? Isn't that' sort of the holy grail of sewing? The machine Singer made during WWII for Boeing had a very, very long arm and sat maybe 7-8 feet in the air on a roller stand..... incredible looking machine sitting along side a bomber. Sure would like to see it again... other unusual machine as well. Those job specific machines are fascinating.

While searching for a picture of a particular Singer 45K, I stumbled upon this unusual Union Special bag closing machine that I thought was pretty trick. I'm fairly new to sewing machines, so this one may be old hat to many of you. http://www.industrialsewmachine.com/webdoc1/union special/2200.htm Perhaps it would be interesting to see pictures of other unusual job specific machines..... particularly leather. I saw a picture once of a huge, long arm, Singer on a stand that was being used to sew aircraft wings onto fuselages. You read that right, I couldn't believe my eyes, I tried several times to find it again, but couldn't. Anybody see that one?