Mystery Machine

[mikesc]

Edit window has passed, so ..Yes, the lions and twin castle turrets entrance is / was  the official crest of Bielefeld

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bielefeld

so the machine was made there, the questions remaining are "by whom ?" and "what is the model and number ?"

Edited September 14, 2016 by mikesc

[Uwe]

I came across this Bradbury manual yesterday: http://www.sewmuse.co.uk/bradbury/bradbury a1 repairer threading.htm  It's the closest thing yet to a manual for our machines, I think. It has threading instructions but the picture doesn not show details very well.

In any case you'll need to use one of those long wire tools with a tiny notch at one end to grab the thread and push it down the center of the needle bar. I'll try it out when I get a chance. My machine turns over nicely, but I'll have to find a bobbin to do some test threading and sewing. 

Edited September 14, 2016 by Uwe

[TinkerTailor]

It could be a situation like happened bicycles in the mid 50's, where Raleigh bought most of the british cycling industry. They basically went up the street handing out cheques and raleigh stickers for the bikes. Your bikes have these stickers now. There were very little standards at the time, so many companies built similar bikes, but with oddities like different thread pitches on parts and things. For a time, while these companies used up there parts their were raleigh bikes that looked the same but were actually quite different and manufactured by in different factories with different tooling. Over time they were standardized to a homogeneous model.

Adler probably bought up a few smaller makers at to get its start. They would have has to use the casting patterns and tooling they already had in stock until new ones could be made.

Keep in mind, the 1880s were the beginning of mass production and advertising. Before then big companies making larger volumes of machines (for any industry) did not exist. The ideas of mass production and brand/model identity and uniformity were barely even thought of. That is what makes the machines from this area most interesting.

[Uwe]

For a rough price reference, this Ebay listing is the only thing I've seen so far that comes close to my machine: http://r.ebay.com/hWCERT

 

 

 

[Uwe]

For threading, here's how I would do it for the top. You'll need the long piece of notched metal wire. I made my own from a welding wire rod by filing a notch at one end to hold the thread as I'm pushing it down the chute inside the needle bar.

My machine is missing the little lubricant cup that is shown in that Ebay listing I referenced above. 

Sadly, my machine is also missing the shuttle hook, so I can't do any test sewing right now or show that threading detail.

Edited September 14, 2016 by Uwe

[mikesc]

The Belgian guy I spoke to ( haven't had time to phone him back yet, I've been out since this morning ) had his wife's machine on sale at €150.oo , but it was not as good condition as either of yours, didn't actually say if it worked or not..yes, highly likely that some manufacturers in the early days bought up their smaller competitors and then made "frankenbuilds" depending on what was on the newly combined shelves..

re the threading wire, my 29K came with one, already "a win" right there ( the people I bought it from had no idea what it was or how the machine worked, they'd inherited it, from the woman's grandfather who as a cordonnier / cobbler had bought it new in 1929) ,I've seen some people in France use a bicycle spoke with a notch cut in the end like you did with your welding rod.

[shoepatcher]

guys,

I think this is a "Politype" sewing machine.  I have one in storage but have not been able to get to it to see what is different on if any

glenn

[mikesc]

Glenn, previous thread , in which you were involved in 2014, here mentions "Politype"

and needlebar has this

http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php/Emile_James

and this

http://needlebar.org/nbwiki/index.php?title=File:Politype.jpg&page=1

 

Edited September 14, 2016 by mikesc

[Yetibelle]

Nice pictures!  

[Harfindel]

I just got one of these from a guy near me.  Here are some pics.

He said he’s had it for about 40 years, and that he used it during that time.  Prior to that it was used by a company to sew leather mail carrier bags for the USPS.  It came with a handful of bobbins, shuttles, and about 40 needles.  It has a serial number on the main drive shaft, no. 1,013,901. 

As you can see, it looks pretty much identical to the machine in UP Frank’s original post here.  It also looks nearly identical to Uwe’s, and the one Cobra Tom had in this thread:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/41656-antique-bradbury-treadle-machine/#comment-259144

There is another one I have found out about through Facebook.

I was able to do some research on the machine.  Bottom line is, I am pretty sure both the base and head were made by Hengstenberg & Co., Bielefeld, Westfalia.  For now I date it to about 1910, but the design of the machine to the 1870's to 1880's.  I'll post another message with the research details, so you can skip them if you want.

The machine seems to be missing at least one part from the cylinder, I think the wax pot but on Cobra Tom’s perhaps something different.  It fits in the opening shown in the third photo.

I’d like to make a reproduction.  Can anyone help supply details about what the originals look like on theirs?

Mine does have a complete bobbin winder, though. I notice that Cobra Tom and UPFrank seem to be missing theirs.  If anyone wants a detailed description of the winder and its parts let me know.