Adler Class Iii - Early 1900 Leather Sewing Machine

[Constabulary]

My latest restoration project - an early 1900´s ADLER Class III leather sewing machine.

This seems to be the forerunner of the Adler Class 4.

Yet, NOTHING is working but I´l give this old Lady some TLC and see if she will work again...

I just wanted to share these pictures since they do not show up often.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Constabulary

[sgheeter]

very cool! I love the hand winder... Thanks for sharing

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Steve - Singermania - might know a bit about these.

[Constabulary]

After oiling and some cleaning I opened the housing (just 3 screws) - what a nice simple design!

Meanwhile I can turn the hand wheel and parts are moving but no sewing yet.

[Singermania]

HI, yes these are great machines, I have three, two labelled Atlas and one Drossner, however they also come as Claes and Adler. .... lots and lots of badging back then. They were the leather workers main machine in Germany and France and take quite a long needle and sew up to about 15mm.

Regards Steve

[Constabulary]

.... lots and lots of badging back then.

Just like today.

Any chance you know where to get the needles? A few are included but they are old so I don´t know if the last when I start using the machine.

[Singermania]

I have a good number of needles in various sizes, however really need them for my own machines. I'd try the German needle makers, they may still do them... there are a lot of these machines out there. Something like Schmetz.

[Singermania]

let me know if you need any info on threading the shuttle etc,

[Cobra Steve]

I used to have one of these in my collection years ago. Thanks for the memories! Steve

[Constabulary]

let me know if you need any info on threading the shuttle etc,

Thanks but I´m about getting a copy of the original manual but haven´t received it yet. So I hope it will answer all my questions. In case I don´t get it I will email you. Thanks again!

I just emailed SCHMETZ because of the needles, they don´t have / make them anymore but their Product Manager emailed me back and said I should call him tomorrow... I wonder what else he can tell me...

I used to have one of these in my collection years ago. Thanks for the memories! Steve

You are welcome!

I hope I can bring the machine back to life.

[Singermania]

I made up my own manual a while back, however the original would be even better, I seem to remember telling someone that I went to all the trouble of making my own and then I found the original. But I can't find the original so I must have dreamt it... happens to me sometimes. I know its a big ask, but I'd really love to have a copy of that manual when it comes, happy to pay any costs. My wife and I are trying to put together a museum of leather sewing machines and also trying to get all the manuals too. Best Regards Steve

[Constabulary]

just cleaned the face plate with needle bar, presser bar + some other parts and noticed they punched the last 3 digits of the serial number in almost every part. Just like serial numbers on guns.

[Singermania]

Just getting back to what you said about the machine being called a Class 3.... I think in Adler guise they were called the K1. Of course I could be wrong, however that's my understanding. When you get the manual it may be confirmed either way.

REgards Steve

[Constabulary]

Mine is in deed and Adler III. I meanwhile have the manual, I had to pay 15€ for a PDF file. The guy did not care about a good quality scan but still better than having non! I also have an incomplete (as it seems) manual of the earlier type called Adler II or Adler MILITRIA. And I have some pictures of the earlier Adler II / MILITARIA from an owner who bought some Adler 4 parts from me.

So here is a picture of the front cover of the Adler Class 3 Manual...

[Constabulary]

A few quick pictures of the Adler II / Adler MILITARIA and my ADLER III

I think you will note the difference!

Meanwhile I worked on my machine as you can see - its getting better and better but I´m by far not done.

Edited April 8, 2014 by Constabulary

[Black Dogg]

For needles you might try calling Campbell-Randall over here in the US. They have all kinds of needles, even odd and old sizes. Their Customer service is second to none!! If calling is too expensive, shoot them an email, I'm pretty sure they can help you. They found the right needle for my old Duerkopp patcher in a lot of mixed, old stuff in their warehouse after I talked to a nice lady on the phone!

Good luck with your project; it's looking good already!

[Singermania]

yes you are right, what I thought was K1.3 was really Class 3, I must brush up on my German..hehe

[Singermania]

Machine is looking very nice, I have trouble getting off the grime but not removing the old paintwork, do you have any suggestions that you find work?

[Constabulary]

I removed the "general dirt" with glass cleaner, the old grease I removed with purified petroleum or lamp oil and a fiber brush. Not sure if this always works but this time it did. Some one told me barbecue or grill lighter fluid works too but I have not tried this. But I think it depends on the ingredients of the fluid. If the old grease is too sticky I use paint thinner to remove it. I figured the old paint on these vintage sewing machines is quite resistant... Of course you have to thoroughly oil the machine after this treatment.

For rusted parts I use a bath of oxalic acid, this turns rust into some sort of grayish coating but I alway brush this off with a wire brush. Oxalic acid also does no damage the paint.

[Singermania]

Hi, thanks for the info, I have trouble removing grease and was from old finishes, seem to take more off than I want to.

Here are three of my machines, you'll see the Adler Class 3 in Koch guise as well as my cylinder arm and post bed models. If you look closely you'll see the fittings are similar on all three machines.

Don't be fooled by the photos, these machines are really big.

Regards and thanks Steve

[Constabulary]

The red Koch Atlas seems to be a Class II.

Look at my pictures. Class II and Class III have different take up levers. You will see the difference from the back side view.

You probably have noticed that the Class III has an excenter rotating on the upper arm which moves the take up lever.

So I´d say you have the earlier Class II

Edited April 9, 2014 by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

I just got it back to live this morning and figured that 794 needles work fine in this machine.

I will post some picture and maybe a video in the days to come or later today.

What an awesome machine!!!

But I´m still not sure If I will keep it.

[Constabulary]

It took a while but I´m finally done!

I have mounted the machine on an old but restored cast iron ADLER stand with new plate and have added a nice Moretti clutch motor (great clutch motor BTW) Treadle stand is sold. I just have done some longer seams and I´m quite impressed of this old piece of old cast iron - I really like it!

Just ran out of batteries for my camera so a couple of pictures and a small video will follow this weekend. So stay tuned if interested

[VanRhodes]

Looking forward to seeing your pictures and video! I love you'r restoration threads

[Constabulary]

Took a bit longer I had to repair a truck tarp for a friend with this machine - worked quite well!

Now here are some pictures

The large hand wheel is extremely nice for hand cranking single stitches!

Edited August 19, 2014 by Constabulary