Adler 105-27 Variant

[GPaudler]

Hello,

Thanks, everybody, for so much useful information. I recently lost my mind and bought an Adler 105-27 and am curious about what the 27 sub-designation means. I have searched fairly thoroughly and can't find a reference on the web, including on Adler's parts blog or in the old 105 manual.

I'm not familiar enough with the 105s to discern any unusual features.

Thanks for any information you might have on the -27 or 105s in general.

Gary

[Uwe]

Without seeing pictures of your 105-27 I have to guess its similar to the 105-27 that Nick-o-sew was selling on eBay some time ago. Their machine looked just like a 105-25 but had a little flatbed attachment and an elaborate bobbin winder contraption that ran off the hand wheel.

It was not unusual for a time for a high-volume-buyer to request a custom version of a machine to suit their specific manufacturing needs.

Help solve the mystery by looking at the Adler brochure of the regular 105 machines and subclasses ( http://www.duerkopp-adler.com/commons/download/download-text-attachments/Vintage_Leaflets_Adler/Leaflets_Adler_class_105.pdf ) and then take a few photos of yours that highlight what's different with your machine. If you post the pictures here we'll have a record of it for future inquiring minds and the ever hungry search engines.

The only real 105-27 documentation reference I came across is a 2-page parts list sold by Proleptic for $2 (http://proleptic.net/shop/adler/adler-105-27/).

Here's a picture of the machine Nick-o-sew was selling:

[GPaudler]

Thanks Uwe, that IS a photo of my machine - that very one that I bought from Nickosew who, I must say, conducted an excellent transaction.

I'll take your suggestion and compare foot lift, stitch length, etc, to the specs for the other variants and post here for reference.

I see that you have a Pfaff 335 - me too, I love that machine. I'm not really sure why I bought the Adler, except that I like the idea of long stitches with big thread.

Gary

[Constabulary]

The 105-27 looks like a 105-8. Maybe it has some special features the 105-8 has not. I once have have removed the "walking foot" mechanism on a 105-8 because it was too nosy. I installed a regular straigt presser foot bar. Advantage is he now can use Singer 45K clone feet. Do you know your machine has this "wallking foot thing" mechanism and how it works? You can "turn it on" by removing a single screw. Well, it´s not a real walking foot but the foot moves with the material and flips back then.

[GPaudler]

This machine has a 7mm maximum stitch length and 12mm foot lift, same as the other 105 variants.

The -27 designation does seem to comprise the bolt-on mini table and burly thread winder, as Uwe described.

It does have the pseudo walking foot action that Constabulary mentioned.

I only bought the head and will build a pedestal for it with a servo motor. I'm really looking forward to using this machine. Thanks for your help.

[Trox]

I never heard about a Adler 105-27. The machine on the picture looks as Constabulary says a subclass 8. The founder, class 5 had a subclass -27 who is exactly the same machine as the 105-8. It has a jump foot and bottom feed. I still have one in my storage, good machine. The machine on the picture has a bobbin winder from the class 5 (with a missing rubber ring). The 105-25 has a driven feeding foot, propelled by the hand wheel. And therfore a different hand wheel than the -8. Perhaps this is a machine put together with parts from a class 5-27 and a 105-8. When it's a custom built machine they can call it what they want too, at least some dealers think they are allowed too. Are there any more 105-27 that this one on Uwes picture? As for the manuals for sale, you never know what's in them before you buy it. Just punch in another "fantasy" machine in your Google search, I bet you find someone who is willing to sell you an manual for it

Tor

[GPaudler]

Thanks Tor. The machine has an official-looking brass plate, in the usual location, stamped "105-27". As you suggest, anybody could have put that there. For now, the machine is under my work bench while I finish an urgent project and resist the impulse to build a stand and power it up. I did already buy a new servo motor for it. When I get it running, I'll post a report with photos.

Gary

[Trox]

Well, I don't really. It is possible to change these subclass plates, they have small screws. But why bother? I have had, used and studied these class 5´s and 105 for many years now. Just when I thought I knew every thing about these machines, there turning up an new unknown model. I just point out the fact that the class 5-27 is exactly the same machine as the 105-8, and this look like an 105-8 and have the subclass number from its forerunner.

Sometimes the sewing machine companies does custom orders on special machines, these are not well documented (if at all). However, what is so special with this machine that it had to be a custom/special machine order. Could they not do with an 105-8. To know the answer to this question we need to see your machine, and what's on the top of the head on this one (out of the picture)

You could also ask Thomas Brinkhoff, head of the sparepart business Durkopp Adler AG. And the author of this blog http://sew24.blogspot.no/p/downloads.html

You will also find what's available of documents on these old classes there.

This could also be an early discontinued model, made before they decided the subclass names of the 105 class. That would explain why they used the old subclass name "-27" for this feed type.

About the spring loaded jump foot, that is made for leather work. This makes it possible to sew with very light foot pressure and again less markings made by the feed dog. It follows the material backward and jump forwards again for the next stitch . that's an improvement over a regular bottom feed only. I have sewn 15 mm thick leather with heavy thread on my old 5-27, with a minimum of marking from the feed dog. I do not remembering it skipped a stitch and it's still in mint condition. I keep it as an backup, I do not want to sell it for small money. It has a complete Saddlers attachment pack (plates, feets and apparatus)

By the way: the class 5-8 and 5-27 was exactly the same machine, the only different was a elevated flat needle plate with matching feed dog on the -27. The answer might be related to this, because subclass numbers alway have a meaning and are used on other classes too.

Post some pics of your machine here and perhaps we can solve this mystery.

Thanks

Tor

[GPaudler]

After spending an hour here and an hour there for these past months I finally finished the stand for the Adler 105-27. All the materials were left-overs from past projects except for the casters, the motor and the PowerTwist V-belt. I didn't want to modify the machine in any way so I turned a bolt from hex stock that tightens the bobbin winder arm and serves as the pivot for the reduction drive swing arm. I turned the 2" V pulley from aluminum bar and pressed it onto the die-cast V pulley that was salvaged from something long-ago. I bored the pulley assembly for ubiquitous, cheap and reliable skate bearings. It's a total reduction of about 6:1 that, with the servo motor on its slowest setting, gives single-stitch controllability in 1/2" of leather or webbing with 346 thread in a #26 needle. It makes a satisfying ka-chunk sound with every stitch.

The fourth photo shows the foot lifter arm that came with the machine. A few other parts were pretty rusty so I duplicated them in stainless. The rest of the machine polished-up pretty nicely and I'm very pleased with how well it sews.

Could somebody please tell me what the thumb screw with lock lever on the left, top, front of the head does? (most evident in photo 6, upper right).

[Uwe]

LOVE that stand!!!