Durkopp Boot Patcher

[kidbeey]

I am hoping someone can enlighten me about this machine. It is advertised for sale but I have not physically viewed it as it is several hundred kilometres from where I live.

The current owner said it only has a serial number and that it can sew the sole of a boot which is more than my Singer Patchers are capable of doing.  Are parts available? I read somewhere that the factory was bombed and they are not available but that could be fiction.

What Class or model is it? Is it superior to any Singer Patcher? What else can you tell me about it?

[Constabulary]

This is a Dürkopp 17 patcher. They came with 3 different size hooks / bobbins. Parts are no longer available since about the 1940´s / 1950´s nothing is made for them anymore. The machines are really nice when clean at set up properly. I once restored an earlier short arm version of it. You find a list of sub classes in this thread here:

Find more about the Dürkopp 17 here:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=dürkopp+17+site%3Aleatherworker.net

Edited 12 hours ago by Constabulary

[kidbeey]

Thanks heaps Constabulary. I know you have Singer Patchers. Would you class this machine as superior? What leather thickness can you sew with your Durkopp?

[Constabulary]

which 29K do you have? If it is a 29K7x then I´d stick with it. Patchers are repair machines and not machines for producing things so do not expect a serious heavy duty machine.

If you love ancient machines (I do) then it is a nice machine - really. But when something breaks you only can get parts from a 2nd machine or you find used parts somewhere.

I haven`t yet tried if my 29K71 or the Dürkopp 17 sews thicker but no matter what I´d keep my 29K71. My D. 17 still needs some attention but it is sewing and I tweaked it so it makes a longer stitch but that just a nice feature but nothing I really need.

Also if you buy it make sure it has a functional hook cause they are no longer available - in some cases you my find a hook that you can modify but do not rely on that.

Edited 11 hours ago by Constabulary

[kidbeey]

That’s good advice; thank you. So in real terms, if something breaks, it’s nothing more than a boat anchor.

I currently have a 29K71 and a 29K 171.

Edited 11 hours ago by kidbeey

[Constabulary]

I would say you already have the better machines. An upgrade IMO would just be a CLAES patcher with large hook (#3 or #300 subclass) or a 29K72 with large hook but they are still patchers! If you want to sew heavier than they can then I would the look for a real leather machine like the Juki 341 clones or something like a Cowboy 3200 or 3500.