Singer 45K68

[jimi]

Here are some pictures of another 45k68 with a different setup. (sorry,the picture above referring to the flat bar was not a 45K69, it is the same one here)

Edited June 10, 2017 by jimi

[jimi]

if you look at the first picture above of the rusty one on the table with motor, you can see where it says singer there is a large score. well funny enough this is the same machine, sold on ebay then cleaned up. you can still see the same score where it says singer. the first tension assembly on the wax pot was taken away! then where the roller one was, a new disk type one installed. the flywheel put on back to front!! anyway just for references. that was the other plate which you can see in the parts book. the wax pot looks a bit shallower in the illustration but more or less the same. so i dont know why he took it off, having both tension units present?? as you can see this foot was slanted to match the slant of the needle plate and had one edge as a guide. (the right side) there is no knife here on this one so he either didnt bother making one or didnt know it used one. you can see in the picture that the foot was not used this way, that is why there is a dark line near the stitches. that is from the side guide on the foot, this was designed to be used on the edge of the sole. there is also a small flat type finger? for holding the thread leaving the both hands free. part nº91794 page 1001. you have in it`s place the normal guide plate base used on the 45k21s and so on. if you ever wanted to get hold of a treadle to use this with i would recommend holding on to the flywheel which came with it as these machines have three pullys on them instead of the normal two. so i doubt you would find another one of them around. 

[Constabulary]

9 minutes ago, jimi said:

if you ever wanted to get hold of a treadle to use this with i would recommend holding on to the flywheel which came with it as these machines have three pullys on them instead of the normal two. so i doubt you would find another one of them around. 

I have two standard 45K flywheels - if someone needs one

[Davidmadd]

Wow Jimi, an absolute wealth of information on the 45K68!!

I bought mine a few months ago on eBay as I saw it as the missing link in my collection of Singers.  I didn't particularly seek out a Sole Stitcher, it was just that it was it was the only one/cheapest one around for quite some time.  I studied the photos intently and got the seller to send me additional ones as I wanted something for general use rather that for Sole Stitching so was delighted to see that the presser foot and feed dog appeared to be "normal"  I particulary wanted the cylinder arm as I felt that my 31k6 could no doubt handle my flat bed needs.  In fact I'm looking at the upper primary tension device on the K6 as a good additional tensioning device for the 45k68.  I have contacted College Sewing to see if they have a pair of large tension discs that I can either utilise or fit as an additional unit.

You are right about there being no felt in the wheel tensioner.  I contacted British Felt to see if they could supply some industrial quality firm felt and they sent me ready cut discs but I have yet to fit them.

It is interesting to see and recognise other machines as they are bought and sold and more likely improved upon.  Are you the owner of the 45 with the scoredSinger??

Once again many thanks for the info and the displayed Parts List.  That must have taken some time to organise and it is greatly appreciated.

I will gradually enlarge the picture of the flat presser bar spring until it is the same length as I can determine from actual machine. It should then give me a good shape to copy for my missing one.

I have checked the part number on the presser foot and it is stamped 91751.

At the same time as mine was listed I was watching a 132K6, but the version with no feed dogs so it was a freehand machine.  There was lots missing so I let it pass but not before contacting the seller as in some photos the Bobbin and bobbin holder were displayed and in some they were not.  I asked if they were included and was told No they are not.  I suggested he makes that clear in the listing or removed the photo showing them, as I would have been extremely disappointed to find these quite rare and expensive parts missing.

Best Regards

David

[jimi]

You are welcome David. and no the scored 45k68 singer is not my machine, i own a 45k1,21,99 and 92. the measurements in the parts book seem to be pretty close so if you needed to make parts you could get a rough idea of its size. just looked and the bar is half size on this page and measures 143mm long 8mm widest at the back and 5mm at the front where it fits into the square hole, so double that and you should be pretty close. i would try one in cardboard first then grind down your bar to fit. here is the user manual for the 45k flat bed type which might come in handy.

if you come across the flat top feed dogs for the 45k89 nº 91576 i think it is, that might give you max feed for your flat plate setup. luckily you are in the UK and 99% of the 45k89´s turn up in the UK so there should be parts flying around there somewhere?? if you need the parts list and numbers let me know david, i can take some shots and upload them also as i saw the copy uploaded before was hard to see in some pages. i am sure when you get the felt or thin leather on the tension assembly and the thread wound on, you will get the tension desired. i will upload a couple of pictures for curiosity´s sake of the frobana setup rockyaussie was talking about, you will see the similitude. 

Edited June 10, 2017 by jimi

[jimi]

Iam sure you have seen one of these before?

thread tensed on spool.

thread 1 1/2 times around the solid wheel and the same type shuttle but with a large rebate to let the curved needle pass.

here are the two types of feed like rocky said, teeth for rubber and knife for leather. and threads held same as the 45k.

and in here would be the small spirit box to heat up the shuttles waxed thread.

[jimi]

 i should have wet the leather a bit more but you can see how it makes the channel.

[Chayse]

@Davidmadd..is it possible for you to expand on the DC motor a bit more. I have finished up my plans and had my circuits double checked by an electrical engineer just to get another point of view, now I am just waiting on one part to arrive! I know it is easy to just buy a new servo motor and do the swap but I like a challenge and I am only into it for $25.... Thanks in advance!

 

V/r,

 

Chayse

Edited June 14, 2017 by Chayse
Spelling errors

[RockyAussie]

On 11/06/2017 at 1:14 AM, jimi said:

Iam sure you have seen one of these before?

thread tensed on spool.

thread 1 1/2 times around the solid wheel and the same type shuttle but with a large rebate to let the curved needle pass.

here are the two types of feed like rocky said, teeth for rubber and knife for leather. and threads held same as the 45k.

and in here would be the small spirit box to heat up the shuttles waxed thread.

I just love these Frobana machines. I still have 4 here but none that looks so pretty as this one. The only real problem I have had with them is wearing out the presser foot. In the picture here you can just see a little bit on the right side starting to wear. None of the ones I have here are anywhere near that good and unfortunantly last time I checked they were about $400 au and that was quite a few years back now. When this gets worn enough the stitches start to miss regularly but if good they do a magnificent stitch.BTW if you dampen the sole leather right you can bury that stitch right in and slick over it and hardly see the thread at all.Thanks for posting Jimi. Brian

[jimi]

Thank you Brian, and you are welcome. yes i agree, they are nice machines. i was hoping to get the rafflenbeul MS200 instead but couldn´t get anybody to arrange the shipping as they are all mainly found in Germany. the only thing i found worn on this one when it came was the tooth of the inside cog that lifts the head up i think it is?? but luckily they thought that one out and i only needed to turn it around 180º as it had the same on the other end, symmetrical! wow that is expensive for the head!! this only cost €120 plus 45 shipping from Germany! never looked but couldn´t one be made up?? oh yes i did wet the leather but not enough, it was really dry that piece and needed more soaking in. they do hide it really good in the leather, the last one i tried with the knife was just great. it sunk it all bellow great. i think it might be a good idea to get a small mill/lathe and make up some good parts for the machines that have problems like this one for parts?? regards jimi.