What Machine Do These Presser Feet Fit?

[bikerdaz]

Ahhh fair comment. Good to hear you have found the problem . I had a similar issue with one of my 132k6's that turned out to be incorrect hook timing.

Anyhoo...

I'm fairly new to leather work so haven't done a great deal as yet. I've made a few seats from scratch for custom built bikes and re covered the seats in my van. But that's it. I'm more of a machine geek! I love restoring old machines, especially singers,with about 25 resto's under my belt now. My 45k 58 was the last one I done! Currently on a class 7-31

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[Evo160K]

It's the older machines that attract me also, primarily Singers. Oddly, I don't sew at all, just like tinkering with the machines. How can one not admire the quality, strength and beauty, particularly when compared to modern, throw-away machines. That's not to take away from other sewing marquees, I have no experience them except for the Claes we used in our business, that I restored.

Up to now, someone else has covered my seats, hopefully that will change, since I have the machines.

Do you know anything about the Singer 45K53? I just bought one.

[bikerdaz]

I agree..I find these machines fascinating. Especially when you think about the reality of them...machines over a century old and still working as well as the day they were made! Astounding...Personally,I reckon that there is very little machinery produced in the world today that will still be working in a hundred years.

Your 45k53, that would be the cylinder bed version?

[Evo160K]

"Personally,I reckon that there is very little machinery produced in the world today that will still be working in a hundred years." What does that say about our value system?

Yes, the 45K53 is a cylinder bed machine.

[bikerdaz]

Exactly! It's a throw away society now. Companies don't make things that last because there's no profit in well built! That's just my take on it tho...

That 45k of yours, probably one of the best leather working machines you can get! Obviously I'm no expert in this field,but it's a heavy duty machine,very capable and quite versatile in the way of what you can do on it. Just find/make yourself a flatbed table with a cutout and you'll probably find that it'll do almost everything you need it to.

Good choice of machine...but that's just my opinion.;-)

[Darren Brosowski]

I sell Cowboy machines and they are pretty good but I doubt that any of them will be running in 100 years time.

Even the best current ADLER or Juki machines of today probably won't run in 100 years time but I could be wrong.

The other way to look at it is that a CB4500 is worth about one months average wages but a Pearson 6 was worth 2-3 years average wages.

It is possible to build a machine to last 100 years or more with spares but is anyone prepared to pay $US50,000

[bikerdaz]

This is very true darren,but I reckon from a business perspective,it would be a sound investment to buy 'the last machine you'll ever buy'. But...i guess it all just horses for courses. Personally tho,it'd choose an old singer over a modern machine any day :-)

slightly off topic tho here guys ;-)

Edited January 2, 2016 by bikerdaz

[Darren Brosowski]

From a business perspective that makes no sense at all.

You do not buy a delivery vehicle and expect it to last for 60 years. If that was the case my great grandfather would have been buried with his Model A delivery van.

Technology changes and improves.

In a previous life I was a refrigeration mechanic and found it amazing that companies that would lease vehicles for 3years/50 thousand kilometres would expect their air conditioning unit to run 24 hours per day 7 days a week and get upset when they started breaking down after 20 years of service.

I love old sewing machines but the older they get the more expensive they are to maintain and the more often they will be out of service and not earning you money.

Everything mechanical is subject to wear.

This is very true darren,but I reckon from a business perspective,it would be a sound investment to buy 'the last machine you'll ever buy'. But...it guess it all just horses for courses. Personally tho,it'd choose an old singer over a modern machine any day :-)
slightly off topic tho here guys ;-)

[bikerdaz]

But we aren't talking about vehicles here darren,we are talking about sewing machines. They're a whole different ball game. The only similarity is that they're both mechanical devices. There is another slight similarity tho...

Modern cars are designed and built to last 10-15 years and be scrapped.

Classic cars were much simpler and made to last. There are still cars driving on our roads that were built in the 20's,30's,40's etc. ..

That's almost 100 years!

How many ford focuses do you think will be on the roads in 100 years?

As for sewing machines,especially vintage singers, yes...They can be expensive to repair and somewhat difficult to source parts. But if they are maintained as per schedule they will still outlast modern machines because the build quality Is far superior to anything modern that I've seen.

One of the biggest factors that contribute to older machines' longevity is the quality of the steel from which it's made. British steel is by far the best steel that had ever been made,Barr none...As opposed to the scrap that the Chinese are pumping out which modern machines are made from,there is no comparison. Hence my reasoning behind choosing older singers over modern tin...

But hey,I guess we all have our own personal preferences! Nobody is right or wrong...its down to the individual and what works for them.

Edited January 2, 2016 by bikerdaz

[bikerdaz]

'Everything mechanical is subject to wear'

Yes,you are correct. But the amount of wear would be far greater on a machine made from cheap metals and especially so on a machine that has a poor maintenance schedule...