Singer 45K online - weak points and what to avoid?

[TonyGreen3455]

I am in the market for Singer 45K and am looking to purchase it online

I've come across one, but it's quite a distance away.

The usage, condition, service, and other details - everything advertised is unpredictable.

Due to my lack of experience with vintage machines, I am requesting your assistance. 

1. What Q's I have to ask the seller prior to travelling?

2. Weak points - where I have to put a special attention on such machine? What else is there to consider besides common sense (backlash, gaps, visible mechanical wear)?

And the main issue - is old 45K really worth it? its clutch motor to be replaced in any way..

used adler 250 clone (just 250, not 250-370) offered for double 45k price - should I lean to it? 

[Constabulary]

where to start.... First of all what do you know about the 45K machine? Is it cylinder arm or flat bed? Jump foot for fixed foot? Has it reverse? Do you know what subclass it is?

What does the seller know? Has he used it or is it a barn find in unknown condition? Can you test sew it? If yes buy needles & thread you want to use with the machine. Download read and print the manual (if possible) and take it with you (or PDF file on your phone) when test sewing the machine.

The Adler most likely is a 205 and not 250. Same questions as above... (205 is a cylinder machine though)

We don´t know the two offers so let us know what you know.

Do you have pictures or a link to the offers? So we can try to figure if parts are missing or if anything is broke...

What do you want to sew with it? What material and material thickness (all layers together)?

 

Edited Tuesday at 02:46 PM by Constabulary

[TonyGreen3455]

7 hours ago, Constabulary said:

where to start.... First of all what do you know about the 45K machine? Is it cylinder arm or flat bed? Jump foot for fixed foot? Has it reverse? Do you know what subclass it is?

What does the seller know? Has he used it or is it a barn find in unknown condition? Can you test sew it? If yes buy needles & thread you want to use with the machine. Download read and print the manual (if possible) and take it with you (or PDF file on your phone) when test sewing the machine.

The Adler most likely is a 205 and not 250. Same questions as above... (205 is a cylinder machine though)

We don´t know the two offers so let us know what you know.

Do you have pictures or a link to the offers? So we can try to figure if parts are missing or if anything is broke...

What do you want to sew with it? What material and material thickness (all layers together)?

 

first of ALL - thank you for your reply

You right - Adler 205 clone. cylinder arm.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355819813297   

no responses from the seller at all. IMO - low price. 

 

Sinfer 45K.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186763222897?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11051.m43.l1123&mkcid=26&ch=osgood&euid=1401378251254ee6ab69110b35ab10d0&bu=42983703480&osub=-1~1&crd=20241105122732&segname=11051 

got a message from the seller - selling machine for his father and has no clue about it. vas very tuff in communication.

this one a bit closer to me to see it

 

first - should I go to see them and to which one?
second - once arriving - what to look for?
yes, I'll take my lightest and heavieast leather/threads to try and a my common stuff as well, but from the mechanical side - where the weakest places (especially for S 45k)?

I have DA669 already. trying to find a machine for heavier leather up to 15oz and/or for leather edge binding. 

have to make a decision, but need some advices.

 

[AlZilla]

You need to find out what 45K subclass it is.

https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/model-list/classes-1-99.html

Scroll down to the 45 section and even in they cylinder arm configuration there are a lot of variants. Some for heavy leather, some for bags, shoe vamps and things that make me question how much clearance there is under the presser foot.

But it's really cute.

EDIT: 45K1 says it has 1/2" presser foot clearance. Maybe they all do.

Edited 23 hours ago by AlZilla

[Constabulary]

looks like a 45K89 with jump foot and reverse (not sure reg. subclass though). The other one is not an Adler 205 it is a Chinese made machine similar to The cowboy CB 3500.

https://www.tolindsewmach.com/cb3500.html

I´m a vintage machine guy and love the 45Ks but the other one for sure is the better deal it has triple feed a larger hook and is the more modern machine (obviously). The price is a steal and I would not wait too long to buy it for that price. Rear foot is missing buy maybe its there but that IMO would not rule out buying it SOON!

EDIT:

Singer seems to be 45k89 as assumed - here is another one:  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355920387730?

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Constabulary

[Damas]

I have a 45k25, I love it, but I just bought a cb3200 similar to your first link.

You can’t beat a triple feed and smooth feed dog when working with leather…

[Damas]

5 hours ago, Constabulary said:

 Rear foot is missing buy maybe its there but that IMO would not rule out buying it SOON!

 

Thread guide on face plate seems also to be missing or not ? It’s a little different on mine…

Edited 12 hours ago by Damas

[Constabulary]

1 hour ago, Damas said:

Thread guide on face plate seems also to be missing or not ? It’s a little different on mine…

its there see 2nd picture.

Really - If I was in the UK I`d buy it in a heartbeat! Don´t let it go for that price!

Edited 10 hours ago by Constabulary

[Damas]

Here, on this pic from internet, I circled what seem to miss on the eBay one (at this price I wouldn't mind, just be sure the part is available) :

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Damas

[ljk]

I have a 45k76 aka as a sack darner.  I do one stitch at a time.  The pressure foot is adjustable for lift.  Needle down foot down. Needle up foot up.  Allows 2  hand operation.  Also came with table.  These machines are cheap and can be very useful for holsters and knife sheaths.  With needle position works very well.

Paid $50 had to soak it for 6months  I can post pictures, but in a hurry these posts go to sewing machine heaven quickly.