Would Like To Restore An Older Sewing Machine

[Evo160K]

This machine has a metal plate fastened to the front with the name Pilgrim Shoe and Machine Co and the model number 200-3. Pilgrim told us recently it is a Claes 8345-30 large bobbin machine manufactured by Textima. They also told us it was marketed in the United States with the Textima, Claes or Tuffy label. There must be something to that because I notice several of the larger equipment suppliers like Landis and Shoe Systems Plus show the same parts numbers for Textima, Claes and Tuffy.

In any case, the machine was purchased by my company in used but excellent condition 30 years ago. It was used perhaps one day a month for 20 years to patch leather safety garments and attach aluminized Kevlar sleeves to molten metal protective mittens and Gloves, it sewed with Kevlar thread beautifully. Thirteen years ago the business and machine were sold. I doubt the machine was even used after that, because the woman who had operated it had retired and no one else had any knowledge of how to operate it. There was no operators manual or literature. Three years ago the buyer moved out of the building we had leased to them and left the machine behind saying it was broken and that part was no longer available, apparently someone inexperienced had tried to operate it. We sold the building and the machine three years after that.. I wanted the machine at that time; I had always admired it, but didn't act on it. It's a beautiful, well made and attractive machine.......like a piece of art, something old-timers like me (and others no doubt) appreciate. I still ride a 1990 Harley-Davidson with 240,000 miles on it that I bought new. Well, a few months ago the attraction became too great, and I purchased the machine back. Unfortunately the lady who had operated the machine all of those years, along with her husband, died in a motorcycle accident, may they rest in peace.

So here's the situation: first, my only experience sewing was in high school cuffing trousers, second, I don't know a thing about industrial sewing machines and third, I intend to refurbish this machine. To that end I've spent hours doing research on this fine website. I've taken scores of pictures, I've pulled it completely apart, taking pictures along the way and I've cleaned it totally. The teeth on the rack and the shuttle driver look perfect, the end play in the main long shaft between the pulley wheel and the feed cam is .004", and after I figured out how to thread and adjust the machine, it seemed to sew well............that remains to be seen though. I don't see anything broken except for a small spring in the large cylinder that holds the needle bar and feed mechanism. That piece is on order.

By the way, in doing research, I had occasion to send a few emails to Europe, but needed to do them in German. I stumbled on to Google Translate. For those of you who haven't used it, it's miraculous, I've bookmarked it. You type a message in to it in any language you choose (English in my case) and it gives you a translation in any language you choose. Also, if you can copy and paste text into it and tell it what language you're putting in and what language you want out (again English in my case), you'll get it. Hope it helps someone looking for parts or trying to translate an old operator or repair manual.

What I would like to ask good people is: 1) what suggestions do you have to do the restoration properly? 2) should the machine be re-painted or left as is? 3) would anyone have any literature of any type for this machine?

Thank you, thank you very much.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Evo160K

[Constabulary]

CLAES is an no longer existing Company. They were located in the former GDR (East Germany).

But maybe the Company CL Maschinenbau can help you as they use the brand name CLAES and are still manufacturing this type of sewing machines:

http://www.cl-maschinenbau.com/produkte/kl8346.php?&lan=eng&img=4

BTW Google translational is nice but remember that the grammar may not be correct and in some cases a translated sentence does nor make sense.

English and German grammar is different!

Well from the first view the machine looks still very nice do you really want to restore / repaint it? I would leave it the way it is.

Most of operator manual for Singer 29K or Adler 30 should help you. The machines are all the same type but may have some technical differences but basically they are quite the same.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Constabulary

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

CLAES still build new machines but they are now high tech servo powered jobs.

In the current paint job the machine looks pretty ordinary so it is up to you. Maybe a black paint job with gold pinstriping?

[Evo160K]

Thank you Constabulary for the link. I contacted them. Thank you also for the heads-up on the shortcoming of the Google Translate program. I'll probably have to make some explanatory comment and apology at the onset of future translated messages so as not to offend someone.

Anne Bonnys Locker, the machine has cleaned up well, but there are some places where the paint is missing. They're not from ordinary wear, which I would think acceptable, more like being banged into with furniture and etc. Would repainting hurt the value of the machine?

Thank you both.

[Constabulary]

THIS machine in particular may have a special value for you due to its history but I think no one will pay extra for just the story. You know what I mean?

Don´t get me wrong, I absolutely understand you.

But there are many of them out there, probably not CLAES but Singer 29K and Adler 30 are wide spread. As I said before they are all the same type of machine. I personally would not pay more tan 100 - 300 (maybe a more when it comes from a dealer and it has a warranty). But it depends on the condition and features that the machine probably has, such as higher foot lift (like the Adler 30-7).

The problem is getting parts for the CLAES machine as it is no longer in production.

Importing parts from Germany - if available at all - may cost an arm and leg. But MAYBE some Singer 29K and Adler 30-1 parts will fit but you have to find out in a trial and error or someone else can tell you for sure. Maybe you can ask PILGRIM if this machine can use Adler or Singer parts. They should know it.

Regarding the paint - not matter if you like the color or not - as long as it is the original color and has just some chips here an there and is not rusted or so I would leave it as it is.

Just my 2 cents

[Evo160K]

Constabulary,

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your knowledge and opinion. When I asked about value, I should have been more specific. I see the machine as a piece of art and plan to keep it. I was concerned painting would hurt the "historical" value, like refinishing a gun often hurts the historical value. I'll leave the machine as is, like you suggested. Thanks again.

[Constabulary]

You are welcome. Historical value is a totally different thing. I like the story - really! Keeping a part of history from a long gone company is always a nice idea. Especially when you personally have worked for that company.

I like vintage Singer machines very much. They of course do not have a story like your machine (not that I know of) but for me they have that certain something. And I like to keep hem alive or bring them to live again.

[Evo160K]

Constabulary,

Speaking of Singers, did you see that wonderful old film in the Scottish Film Archive titled "The Birth of a Sewing Machine"? All about Singer, an amazing machine, I was blown away.

http://ssa.nls.uk/film/1592

Edited May 28, 2014 by Evo160K