A Polish Guy, His Grandmother, Nazis, And A Dildo Factory: How I Got My Latest Sewing Machine

[tk1971]

Just thought I'd share the story on how I got my 29-4. After getting it and re-reviewing the story behind it in my head, I thought I'd type it out. I feel that it's something worth mentioning.

Background:

My late father was a tailor. He had made custom suits for many-a-gentleman coming into his little shop, once upon a time in Hong Kong. I've grown up around industrial sewing machines and have seen my dad do incredible things such as letting out small suits to fit bigger waistlines, and making custom seat/appliance covers all over the house. After his passing, I felt cheated that I never had the interest to learn from him. I've been collecting antique Singer sewing machines and trying to restore them for personal use ever since.

The Singer model # 29-4, the Cobbler's "Patching" machine:

From the factory manual: "Machine No. 29-4 is intended for use in manufacturing and repairing shoes, and is also useful for stitching other articles made of leather or cloth."

After spending some time on leatherworkers.net and discovering the virtues of the 29-4, I had only started looking to own one for about 2 weeks. I rationalized that this would be the perfect machine for me. Equipped with a cylinder arm and a swiveling 360º head, I can use this to repair the occasional loose stitch on my motorcycle leathers (jackets, pants, suit, boots), sew patches on these items and possibly allow me to become spiritually closer to my late father.

Then it happened, I found a local listing on eBay and a description indicating that it was passed down from his grandmother from Poland. A family owned unit that hasn't exchanged hands would hopefully indicate a unit that was not used for production (no heavy use) and would likely have all the required parts intact. After some quick negotiation (using the best offer option), I set out to go pick the Cobbler's "Patching" machine.

The Machine Shop:

So, I went to the gentleman's place of business to pick up the Singer. It's an old machine shop with a guard dog, a couple racing cars sitting outside and a Harley parked inside (my kind of place). I went through the machine shop, noticed machines molding what appear to be colorful plastic pieces, and met the proprietor. He was super friendly. I looked behind him in his office and noticed some random boxes of the finished product his company makes (adult stimulation devices, but still couldn't figure out where some of those colorful plastic pieces go). We went outside to check out the Singer and he briefly gave me the history of his grandma's sewing machine. Apparently, his grandparents were quite political back in the day. Apparently, they had even "partied with Hitler". But he fondly remembers his grandma sewing with the Singer, operating the treadle by foot.

The Singer 29-4:

The unit had been stored both inside and outside. There was little to no play in all the moving parts (showing little wear), especially the needle bar. The decals were mostly still there, but the details are gone. It had minimum rust. All the parts appear to be there, and the machine cycled through with some effort (at least not frozen). In the drawer, I found needles, bobbins, and a business card for a sewing supply place in Los Angeles, that had a telephone number in the old plug-board exchange format. Later on, when looking up the serial number, I discovered that this 29-4 was made in the year 1900, making it 111 years old.

The transaction:

I paid the gentleman what I owed him. His son came to help me load the Singer into my Ford. We talked a little and I found out the Harley belonged to him. We talked "shop" for a little bit and I did a little moaning about how hard it was to rebuild the 4-carbed setup on my 1978 Goldwing. I drove off a little poorer, but with a certain sense of satisfaction that I can't describe.

Getting it running:

Having been an avid shooter for many years, I'm quite familiar with Ed's Red bore cleaner, which is basically equal parts of ATF, Kerosene, Mineral Spirits and Acetone. Reducing or even eliminating the use of Acetone will result in a plastic/paint friendly formula that can be used to scrub away rust and "unstuck" anything from motorcycle parts to Mosin Nagant rifles. I liberally applied it on the Singer and within a half hour, the Singer cycled through as easily as butter gliding on a hot skillet. I put more Ed's Red on the moving parts and waited a day before spraying it down with compressed air, followed by a proper treatment with sewing machine oil.

I fitted up the Singer with 69 bonded thread and a size 18 round point needle that came with it, tuned the thread tensions, and got it running great. So far, I've fixed a pair of Timberland sandals and added a piece of Velcro onto my belt-mounted cell phone pouch. All this and I don't even have a treadle belt yet (on order and coming soon).

Here are some pictures of MY Singer in its new home:

[Trox]

Just thought I'd share the story on how I got my 29-4. After getting it and re-reviewing the story behind it in my head, I thought I'd type it out. I feel that it's something worth mentioning.

Hi what a great story, you got a way with words, are you a writer.

Try to set your machine to the longest stitch length and measure it on thin leather. A new machine should be able to do 5 to 5, 5 stitches on an inch.

Trox

[King's X]

Wow.............what a find and what a history! Thanks for sharing..............I am also interested in those darn color plastic pieces....

[tk1971]

Thanks for the compliments. Nope, I'm not a writer, just some pencil pusher exploring hobbies during my limited free time.

I didn't think to write anything down, but after thinking about it, it was too weird not to share.

A big Thanks goes out to this site and it's knowledgeable members to help me get started.

[Wishful]

What a beauty....

[amuckart]

Best topic title ever!

Nice machine too

[tk1971]

Try to set your machine to the longest stitch length and measure it on thin leather. A new machine should be able to do 5 to 5, 5 stitches on an inch.

Trox

I'm getting 6.5 stitches to the inch on 2mm thick scrap leather on the longest setting. I tried using cloth, but it'd just bunch up.

[Techsew Ron]

Great story! Really nice pictures too.

Feel free to contact any of the sewing machine dealers on leatherworker.net if you need any parts or accessories for your machine.

Enjoy !

Ron

[Trox]

That is normal on an old machine, not bad at all. You will find much “stuff” on your machine searching the forum here for Singer 29K and Adler class 30. I have 3 of this type of machine my self (two in working order, one long and one short arm) I can not do with out them. Manuals and part list on http://parts.singerco.com/.

Good luck!

Trox

I'm getting 6.5 stitches to the inch on 2mm thick scrap leather on the longest setting. I tried using cloth, but it'd just bunch up.

[DuaneS]

Loved the story, It's Great! and after reading it I started searching around a little and found this on eBay...

Antique Singer Industrial Sewing Machine+Shoe Anvils