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On the subject of obscure 45Ks, this has turned up. A 45K74 on a 29K stand with what looks like all the parts that wore out and were replaced over the last 100 years. There's 25 spare throat plates included I can't find any information about the 45K74 anywhere. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Singer-Cylinder-Sewing-Machine-45k74-/172663996558 Neil

It does look unusual but there's this picture www.industrialsewmachine.com/images/SingerV/45k37.jpg And this ebay listing www.ebay.com/itm/SINGER-45-K-37-LEATHER-SEWING-MACHINE-/231919645088 Neil

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Singer-45k-heavy-walking-foot-industrial-sewing-machine/232304882539 There's also this, which I think is a 45k37 with 1/2 inch stitch Not sure about the sellers user name though Neil

I think its a fore runner of the 132k12, look at the parts chart for the 132k6, k10 & k12. There's also this old ebay listing, which is even handier with good pictures. www.ebay.ie/itm/SINGER-132K12-132K-12-INDUSTRIAL-TRMIMMING-STITCHING-SEWING-MACHINE-/121210750608 Neil

I was going to refer the 31k to ebay when I got home today, but I found the seller had referred it already. I'll hear from ebay in 48 hours. The Seiko looks a lot like a Singer 211, I like that "Jet Age" styling myself. It's white, and the "Seiko" badge on the arm is a sticker not a plate so I think it's not that old. I see on the Braithwaite website this model is still being made. The seller used it for making boat covers and suchlike, but had to retire due to poor health. He was pleased to see it going to go to a good home. The only shortcoming with this model seems to be the max stitch length is only 6.2mm, but for the price and only 100 miles way it was too good to miss. Neil

Last Monday the seller messaged me that they had reported the breakage to the courier. I haven't heard from them since, but this Monday it reaches the stage where I can refer the problem to ebay. A little distraction today when I went down Dingwall way and bought a Seiko LSW 8BL for £200. It's in good condition, just needs cleaned, oiled and a little adjustment. Rannoch Moor's a wee bog doon sooth, is it no? Neil

The biggest blanket bog in the world, 1500 square miles. Thanks for the complements about the photo, I think my digital compact camera limits the image quality for commercial use though. My sister's partner has sold the odd photo (he has a pro quality DSLR) and he's a web developer so I'm well supported on that front. A welder would be much handier just now of course. I bought the machine on ebay so I'm going through their resolution process.

That's an enormous peat bog, if you dropped the machine there it wouldn't break, it would sink. I heard back from the seller, they say they packed it well and the courier made it kaput. Aye, right. Neil

Hoy, this isn't darkest Scotland, that's down near Moffat. This is the treeless northern plain where wolves and musk ox roam No JB Weld locally but I could get it delivered here, you can even get sewing machines delivered here Somebody has recommended a local steelworking firm so I'll try them next week Neil

Any idea what this might cost? Specialist engineering up here means the oil industry or nuclear decommissioning, there's not the population to support much else.

Hi everybody, the machine was made in Scotland in 1929 and the journey back home nearly killed it. That's over 1400 miles from Berlin, though as Constabulary said it wasn't packed for any sort of journey at all. It's an ebay purchase so I'll see where I get with them. There are almost no industrial machines that turn up in northern Scotland, just an odd standard flatbed Brother or equivalent over the years Do I understand you right Bob, you're saying it would work even without reattaching the broken piece? I'll look for somebody to braze in together anyway, can't guarantee I'll find somebody willing to do it though. People repairing iron up here will be doing engine blocks and implement seats. If I find somebody I'll show them this thread. Epoxy and screws is still a possibility though. I presume the forces in this area are pretty low, though the shaft is rocking with every stitch which is small movement but could easily be 10 or 20 times a second sewing fabric. I've ruled out any adjustment of the rock shaft from the broken end whatever repair it ends up with Thanks, Neil

Thanks Bob and Eric (and everybody else). It's good it's not too serious, I didn't want to keep the machine only for it to fail after a bit of use. It sounds like the repairs not too critical, I can't braze but I could manage screws, dowels and epoxy. I'm sure I can find someone to braze iron up here, though not somebody with any experience of sewing machines. I'll have to see what happens with ebay and the seller, the cheap option looks better unless I can get a refund to spend on repairs. Thanks for finding the bobbin winder Constabulary, it looks like the right one. I'll be using the machine with a motor so I don't need the winder, but I wanted to keep it for possible future use. I'll get back to you when I hear from ebay. Neil

Thanks I think Singer used proprietary thread pitches so that would be another complication with welding. I'm 200 miles from any industrial sewing machine places so anything specialized is a non starter. Grinding the foot flat makes sense, I hadn't thought of that. It's still a small piece to work with though. What are the stresses here anyway? There's the movement of the rock shaft and the locknut on the rock shaft screw. It came from Berlin, the seller seems to be some sort of antiques dealer, so they should know about cast iron.

It was badly packed in a cardboard box, 2 ply card with two more layers inside, completely inadequate for a sewing machine. Welding sounds like it would be a very expensive job, it's a small piece for any type of repair and I keep thinking about the vibrations of running at even a modest 600 or 1200 spm. It's a terrible shame, the machine is an almost mint 1929 treadle version (the bobbin winder was snapped as well). The japanning is unworn and glossy on the bed. Neil

I bought a Singer 31K32 and it arrived damaged. This is the significant damage. Is it terminal? The machine still sews for hand wheeling it. Neil PS, this is the right hand end of the feed rock shaft.

At 1' 50" in this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNT67AALHVs Are there any other videos of 97-10s? Neil

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Singer-40-CYLINDER-ARM-NEEDLE-FEED-INDUSTRIAL-SEWING-MACHINE-/281930757571?hash=item41a461f5c3:g:wOQAAOSwUuFWuR~J#viTabs_0 I found this on Ebay in the UK, the listing is archived for posterity here - http://archive.is/AVEPt I have no connection to the seller and no experience of them but it's such an unusual machine I thought people would like to see it. I'm not buying it either. The end of the bed and the pillar look like a 45k, but the rest... Neil

This looks like the Family Sew motor here - http://www.anglosewing.co.uk/anglospeed.html No price though Neil

The 331 was the replacement for the 31. The 331K4 is the machine you are thinking of. 331Ks seem to be fairly common in the UK, don't know about elsewhere.

Hi Gregg, I'd be interested to find out when this happened. When did Singer stop being the leading industrial sewing machine manufacturer? Neil

Hi, I have a 45k1 flatbed and a recently acquired 45K25 (1916, though originally a 45k48 darner that had feed parts added at some stage). Your 45k doesn't have the standard 45K25 needle plate. My 45K25 has the same screw holes in the shuttle driver though, but I don't think there's anything important missing. There's meant to be movement between the shuttle and shuttle driver, this allows the thread loop to be pulled through. Singer used a lot of proprietary threads, even with another Singer as a donor theres a lot of nearly but not quite fitting screws. You can get a basic 45K operators manual here http://www.bootmaker.com/manuals.htm It has information on adjusting the automatic thread controller. You can also look at the 7 class manuals on the singer site, the information on feed timing works for the 45K. Have you cleaned the faceplate tensioner? The disc is meant to turn as the thread goes round it. You could also join the forum at www.needlebar.org, we've had some discussions about these machines. Sewmun, do the GA-5 feet fit the 45k? I'm interested in getting a feed dog and a presser foot.

I think the difference is because UK AC mains is at 50 hz while it's 60 hz in the US. Quite handy for us really.

Good going Badger. I wasn't sure if they'd still have the Singer, it must have been 12 - 18 months since I first saw it on that site. Hope it serves you well. Would you be willing to tell us what that much sewing machine costs in the UK A Seiko badged as a Singer, when did that start? The specs are listed here - http://www.industrialsewmachine.com/webdoc1/singer/45b.htm Neil

I've come across this website, they seem to be selling a 441 clone and used machines as well - http://www.hartleysewingmachines.co.uk/products.php?id=8 I've also seen an Adler 205 clone branded as Jason here - http://www.sewquick.co.uk/ This place also has a used Singer 45B on their website, which is not a machine you hear much about, looks like a Seiko though. There's a used Jason here, but you might be paying extra for the synchro binder http://www.cthompsonsewingmachines.co.uk/stock/ Neil

Do you have a friend or relative who is mechanically compotent? I find sewing machines quite easy to work with. It does seem like you have a stop motion flywheel, I'm not familiar with these but there may be dirt or wear in the mechanism. I think you should get a new bobbin case, they're not expensive. The bobbin fits in the bobbin case which is placed in the shuttle. The latch holds it on the post in the shuttle. The bobbin case stays stationary while the shuttle oscillates in the shuttle race - no screws involved. You could always get a new shuttle as well in case the post has wear on it - these are also cheap. You should also join this forum - http://www.needlebar.org - it's for people who collect old sewing machines. You should be able to get plenty of help there. Neil.