Constabulary Report post Posted October 11, 2014 (edited) I found this "Pink Beauty" at a shoe shop. They once used it as shop window decoration but the new owner had no use for it. I could not refuse to buy it as it cost me just 26€ (after some negotiation). I was not sure if would be worth the pain to restore it but at least spare parts would bring more than what I have paid. It came with a nice shuttle and 5 small bobbins. Sunny afternoon today and I took the chance to wash down the pink hippie paint from the head and it worked great! It took me just 45 minutes to remove it. And what have I found on the backside? A decal that reads KRIEGSAUFMACHUNG and below that the French translation. Kriegsaufmachung means something like "Wartime Design". Holly cow - this thing must have been made between 1939 and 1945. I assume after 1940 as the decal had a French translation on it. I never have seen this before. Unfortunately I has not able to safe the decal. The machine turned out quite nice - not much rust or sticky oil on the parts just the gear box cover has some surface rust. I hope this thing will sew when I´m done. Some pictures Edited October 11, 2014 by Constabulary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billybopp Report post Posted October 11, 2014 That's some kind o' PINK .. It's blinding. LOL. I hope that if you decide to restore it you find some way to duplicate the decal for it. That's just cool!! Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted October 11, 2014 Looks like a real nice one......now!! That pink is real bright,I guess in a shop window it would sure stand out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 12, 2014 @ Billibob Well - no! Making new decals and finding a buyer who appreciates these details will not be easy I think. I already have a 29K71 and I have no space for a 2nd patcher so it has to go when I´m done. It will look different but not pink again Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 12, 2014 Some progress... I decided to paint it Olive Drab (a whole different thing but I like it), I have blued the gear box with Gun Blue and I have highlighted the lettering with white paint. I ran out of OD paint so the head will be painted and assembled in the days to come... As you can see - no rust on the head parts and yet I have only used paint thinner to clean them. I hope it will make some nice stitches. I was not able to test it as it was covered and gummed up with pink hippie paint. So it´s a bit of a gamble this time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoepatcher Report post Posted October 13, 2014 Costabulary, Cleaned up very nice. The long rack looks to be in good shape. How much wear is there on the bellcrack lobes? Great find. glenn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 13, 2014 Just looked at it a bit closer and as far as I can tell it shows not much wear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoepatcher Report post Posted October 14, 2014 Excellent, Lobes look great. I think you may be selling the Singer 29K73 before long. glenn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 14, 2014 Don´t say that - I`m a bit "Singer crazy"! The big advantage of the 29k73 is that it is shorter and not as heavy as the 30-1 so I think I will keep my 29K73 - hopefully! Furthermore the spare parts situation is much much better for the 29K73. For example - the only needle bar I have found for the 30-1 costs 320€ (not $) and the needle bar for my 29K73 was just about 30€ and that is just one example. Hell - I could buy TEN Singer needle bars or just one Adler needle bar for about the same money! BTW - I think I will check if the needle bars are interchangeable... just as the shuttle hook and presser foot are. Adler spare parts are extremely expensive in Germany. They are probably original Adler parts (but who knows) but I can spend my money just once and I try to get the most out of it so I think I will keep my Singer but we will see... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 15, 2014 My fault - I have have a 29K71 and not 29K73 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted October 15, 2014 My fault - I have have a 29K71 and not 29K73 I have one of those also. I use it rarely, on tight pockets, or on patches with yellow or gold borders. I keep it threaded with yellow-gold #69 thread. My main 29k172 patcher has four spools sitting on the thread stand, but is usually used with black (#69 only). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 15, 2014 (edited) Yes, my 29K73 is a nice to have machine. I get about 4.5mm stitches out of it so it is worth to keep it. I only use it fore repairs in tight spaces or inside bags and so forth. I just use it once or twice a month. I just have repaired a 1943 dated .30M1 Carbine pouch for a friend thasts what it is really good for! I´m curious how long the stitches of th 30-1 will be. Since the bell cranks looks quite nice it could be the full 5 SPI if I have luck. We will see... Edited October 15, 2014 by Constabulary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 16, 2014 (edited) Just painted the rest, assembled the head and put everything else together - runs very well so far. I haven´t timed it yet but is makes 4.5mm - 5mm stitches in cardboard. Pretty good result. If I had no other patcher I´d keep it but my Singer runs a bit smoother and is more compact. Olive Drab is not everybody's cup of tea but I think it is quite nice. Next challenge will be the treadle stand. I think I have to fully disassemble it and grind off the paint. Edited October 16, 2014 by Constabulary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J Hayes Report post Posted October 16, 2014 WOW! I like the colors, nicely done! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted November 7, 2014 Some progress on the wooden treadle stand but still enough pink to sand down I think I will motorize it and take off the treadle mechanism but I´m not sure yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zuludog Report post Posted November 7, 2014 Similarly in Britain I have seen books and tools marked 'wartime standard' or 'wartime finish'. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted November 9, 2014 Looks great to me, Constabulary. I think the colors work well with the wartime theme. Wish I had thought to put the body of mine into a tub to soak. Sure would have been faster. Next time, I hope. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TRADERnel Report post Posted November 12, 2014 i like that green.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
