Dürkopp 18 Patcher Restoration - long journey...

[Constabulary]

The Dürkopp 18 is a quite unique patcher machine because it has a very narrow tip and can sew in very tight spaces other patchers probably would not be able to reach. It also has not an oscillating / elastic hook like all other patchers. Instead it has a "boat shuttle" in a fixed position and a "thread hook" which grips the upper thread pulls it back and thread slides around the shuttle and is forming the knot with the bottom thread (basically). This Video shows is quite good (not my video):

Almost 1 year ago I found a quite rare Dürkopp 18 patcher head on Ebay. This actually was the first I have seen with a front crank - all others I have just had the side wheel. That was the main reason I bought it. So far - so good. Bought the machine - paid it - seller shipped it and that where my journey starts...

The seller seemed to be not very clever - though I gave him clear instruction how to pack up the machine he did not listen and even worst - he shipped the machine up side down (I told him to put arrows on the box). He put the shipping label on the wrong side (bottom side) of the box so the machine traveled flipped up side down and its obvious what would happen - the delicate top parts broke and the needle bar bent. Needles to say that parts for this machine are no longer available

This is what I have bought:

And this is how the machine arrived:

 

I disassembled the machine to see what parts actually broke / bent and that's how it went under the work bench and started collection all forts of dust and dirt again for almost 1 year.

Edited July 31, 2017 by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

So the only way to get the parts I need is a 2nd machine and after almost 1 year I finally have found one within 1 hr driving range. Unfortunately - this one is totally rusted and seized. but the good thing is it came with a stand. Some pictures:

 

So I started restoring the stand first:

Drawer was quite good it just needed a new bottom - obviously. Washed it out with soda solution took it apart put in a new bottom and assembled it again. On the Dürkopp logo is still is the original gold paint I just put clear coat on it.

 

After I took apart the stand I de-rusted the screws washed off all the dirt and gunk in a bath of soda solution I painted the stand with Hammerite and put some clear coat on it - turned out quite nice...

Edited July 31, 2017 by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

Next is the machine head... but that way take a few more days.... to be continued

[dikman]

The stand looks great! Good start.

[Constabulary]

so far these are the damaged parts I discovered... Maybe there are a few more - I will find out when I start cleaning and reassembling everything.

 

Edited July 31, 2017 by Constabulary

[LumpenDoodle2]

I admire your patience, and it is paying off.   You've done a lovely job on the stand.

Having had a machine posted to me badly packed (I also gave explicit instruction on packing the machine, all of them completely ignored), and having to gather up the broken bits of a 130 year old machine, my heart goes out to how you must have felt opening that box.

Some folk need a good drubbing.

[Constabulary]

I swallowed the anger a while back already but when I look at the pictures I´m still a bit pissed. But its just a machine...

The Class 18 was in production at least until 1943 so this one (or both) is / are not "that old". The model list of Dürkopp and Adler machines (see PDF attachment) show that there was a change in the needle system of the Class 18 in 1943 - they switched from Sys. 88 to Sys. 332 LONG - like the Adler 30-7 uses. I would guess my 1st machine (the one I restore) is from the mid to late 1930´s. I heard a story that the production of the Class 18 (and other machines of course) stopped because the plant has been destroyed during an allied air raid. But afaik that was in Sept. 1944 - maybe parts of the plant got hit during earlier air raids already because Durkopp also produced weapons and other armaments during WWII.

1st one with the hand crank is the earlier one cause it has a lower serial number. Just noticed even the machine castings have small differences.

BTW - I think the Dürkopps must have been proud of his machine - the two crank knobs are made from porcelain and not plain wood.

 

hist_kl.pdf

Edited July 31, 2017 by Constabulary

[GPaudler]

What a fantastic hook mechanism! That will be a beautiful machine, the green one in the museum video is gorgeous.

 

[alexitbe]

Good Work! Constab....

 

Its funny, some people's idea of good packaging.  I had one person tell me they were going to pack the sewing machine well only for it to turn up in a box a quarter full with sawdust...? And yes, it was broken as a consequence.  its seems some people are not willing to listen.  Still, it looks like you are progressing well.

 

I have had good results putting on Hammerite with a small sponge roller.  It was much better that using the 10 Euro special brush I bought for it.

 

Keep up the good work.

Alex

[jimi]

That was a bummer! i know exactly how you feel Folker? did you buy it from Australia.... that treadle looks great! and its not SILVER!!. now at least you have found the parts to get it going. some people do not realize that you cannot leave a machine loose in a box! anyway here is a very good solution that was sent to me last week. i had been looking for a skiver for a while and finally got one and this is how it was sent...

an old fruit crate! so i would give 10 out of 10 to this guy, all arrived safe and well. so if anybody is going to send a skiver this might be a cheap and good solution. nice work again on that stand Folker, hope to see that old iron going soon.

[Evo160K]

Fascinating sewing system.  Truly admire and respect the intelligence and engineering that went into these old sewing machines........perhaps an example of man at his best.

[Constabulary]

16 hours ago, jimi said:

and its not SILVER!

I knew you would say that - just for you - no just to bother you - I will add some silver pin stripping   Naaa - will not.

 

[Constabulary]

I finally found the time to start cleaning and reassembling the head. Machine has lot of screws and small bits. Quite time consuming cleaning them

Some pictures...

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2017 by Constabulary

[battlemunky]

Wow! Really cool following along with the restore. Thanks for doing so, both saving the machine and showing us the journey.

[CowboyBob]

Looks great, can't wait to see it finished.

 

[alexitbe]

A real Beauty, Constab...

Why did this machine appeal to you? What makes it interesting or differen to the others?

 

Lastly, how did you clean the chrome (I guess) pieces so well? Electrolysis? I cannot get my  chromes parts looking so fine.  My next attempt was to try Jeweller's rouge and polishing pad...

 

Keep up the good work

Alex

 

[Chayse]

Awesome restoration and admire your patience! The machine will truly be a gem when you are finished....only to do it all over again on another machine! I think it is a sickness but not in a bad way. Saving things from the rubbish bin and making them useful once again! I looked at that bin of screws, nuts, and bolts and let out a huge sigh....my hats off to you my friend for having that much patience but it will pay off in the end. Very nice work Constab!!!

[Constabulary]

Thanks a lot folks 

 

7 hours ago, alexitbe said:

Why did this machine appeal to you? What makes it interesting or differen to the others?

Well, the last thing I really need is another patcher. My Singer 29K71 is more than sufficient for what I do with it. The hook mechanism on this Durkopp 18 is unique / totally different, it has not an oscillating shuttle like all the other patchers have. This one has a shuttle in a fixed position and a hook that moves back and forth and then guiding the thread around the shuttle (see Video in 1st post). This special hook allows to sew in extremely tight spaces. I know no other machine that has such a pointed tip. Thats what caught my interest.

 

7 hours ago, alexitbe said:

Lastly, how did you clean the chrome (I guess) pieces so well? Electrolysis? I cannot get my  chromes parts looking so fine.  My next attempt was to try Jeweller's rouge and polishing pad...

The brownish stuff it dried oil and and dirt in combination with surface rust - hard to tell what is what. I soaked the parts in paint thinner so the gunk is coming of better and then I polished the parts with an electric drill and round steel wire brush. Thats really efficient. Parts are clean but not really shiny like chrome. Not sure what the original finish was but seems it varied anyway. The 2nd machine has some parts painted black (like the tension unit on top of the machine or the oil cup) and the same parts or in the other machine were nickle plated or chromed or left blank.

Funny thing - I found a 1 Pfennig coin from 1950 inside the machine. It washed out when I cleaned the inside with paint thinner. And thats was not the 1st time I had this before. Maybe some sort of "cobblers rite". For those who don´t know the 1 Pfennig coin was considered as a "lucky coin" - so maybe this machine had luck that it found me or I had luck that I found the machine . I will put it in the drawer when I´m done...

[Kohlrausch]

2 hours ago, Constabulary said:

Funny thing - I found a 1 Pfennig coin from 1950 inside the machine. It washed out when I cleaned the inside with paint thinner. And thats was not the 1st time I had this before. Maybe some sort of "cobblers rite". For those who don´t know the 1 Pfennig coin was considered as a "lucky coin" - so maybe this machine had luck that it found me or I had luck that I found the machine . I will put it in the drawer when I´m done...

Way cool. And you truely are lucky with the Pfennig. I only found 50 nails when I cleaned a Singer 7.

Greets

Ralf C.

[dikman]

Nice work so far. I looked at that green bin full of bits and chuckled - let's see, I need a small bolt here, this one? Nope, how about this one? Nope, next one........

[billybopp]

Awesome to see this restoration in progress - It's a fascinating machine, but I have a favor to ask!  As you put the shuttle and hook back together, take some pics.  I'm having a hard time visualizing how the thread passes behind the shuttle!  It seems like the shuttle would have to almost float free for the thread to pass, and just can't quite see it in my mind.

Bill

[CowboyBob]

It seems like the shuttle would have to almost float free for the thread to pass.

Billy,Yes that's what happens on all lockstitch ,the loop of thread goes on both sides of the shuttle on the 29's & around the bobbincase holder & bobbincase on other machines like on your Consew 206

Look at this;

https://boingboing.net/2016/02/10/how-a-sewing-machine-works-gi.html

Edited November 13, 2017 by CowboyBob

[Constabulary]

Billy thats a secret "hoover shuttle" based on the German WWII secret Repulsine drive but a bit advanced and down scaled  

 

6 hours ago, dikman said:

Nice work so far. I looked at that green bin full of bits and chuckled - let's see, I need a small bolt here, this one? Nope, how about this one? Nope, next one........

You hit the nail!!!

 

Edited November 13, 2017 by Constabulary

[jimi]

Nice work Folker, keep up the good work  maybe you should put the Pfennig back in the machine again because it might not work afterwards  and good to see the original finish, well done.

Edited November 13, 2017 by jimi

[Constabulary]

Jimi, I´ll let you know if it works better with or without the Pfennig

I´m almost done. I think I can finish it later today - maybe tomorrow if it needs some tuning...

I just did some dry stitches and increased the stitch length contentiously - HOLY SMOKES  - seems it can do 9mm - 9.5mm long stitches. Thats not even mention in the manual and by far the longest stitch length I ever have seen from a patcher machine - longest yet was 7mm on a CLAES. I´m pretty impressed! 

Will post pictures and maybe a Video when I´m done