jimi Report post Posted October 7, 2017 (edited) "special R".Tony if you mean the R with the long swash then the measurement was posted in my last pictures? the 29k one? they are the same size. the length of the Singer MFCº is 6 1/4" or 160mm long. Folker, did that 132k trim leather or just material? if it trimmed leather that could be a good way of getting rid of the teeth marks left behind?? you know, right side toe and feed dog (looking to the machine), then trim off the right side with the teeth marks?? the 45k63 had a trimmer attachment also. Edited October 7, 2017 by jimi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 7, 2017 don´t know if it was meant for trimming leather - but could be (depends on thickness I think) since it is an SV machine. The cloth trimmer (originally for trimming soft shoulder pads) was 132K12 - this one is 132KSV11 - who knows... but I I have no use for a trimmer... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parfektionisto Report post Posted October 7, 2017 3 hours ago, Constabulary said: NO WAY - ha ha - Jimi just bothers me a bit with this because I paint most of my restored machines silver and put on black decals. THIS one will stay as is and because the original paint job + decals are very nice I will try to turn it into a 132K6? Why? Because the parts for putting it back into its original configuration are no longer available and I have no use for a machine with a trimming device. BUT it has a lot similarities with the 132K6 and lost of K6 parts are still available.... sooo thats a future project.... This was my original post reg. this 132K. Your 45K looks very nice with this crackle coating But I think I would have painted the flat bed with glossy black Reg. 132K decals - yes shading looks gray. Most likely you would not see a black shading on a black machine. Hi Constabulary, I painted almost everything in crinckle finish except the front cover and flywheel in shinny black. Even the bobbin winder and the wax pot is in crinckle finish, you can tell that I really love crinckle finish a lot, just as much as you love shinny silver. I'm sure this crinckle finish flatbed will last longer than a shinny black, it should withstand abrasion much better, that's why I made the decision. Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted October 8, 2017 Tony, Have you seen LW member Colt W. Knight's Decal tutorial he posted in this 2014 topic? : http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/59807-would-appreciate-your-advise-on-restoring-this-singer-45k25/?page=2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parfektionisto Report post Posted October 14, 2017 On 08/10/2017 at 8:15 AM, Evo160K said: Tony, Have you seen LW member Colt W. Knight's Decal tutorial he posted in this 2014 topic? : http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/59807-would-appreciate-your-advise-on-restoring-this-singer-45k25/?page=2 Hi Al, Thanks for the link. Does it mean we have to manually hand painted the gold colour on the decals before sticking it on the machine? Anyone has an original singer decal with the long "R", if yours is in good or visible condition pls post a pic here. Thank you! Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parfektionisto Report post Posted October 14, 2017 (edited) Sorry I mean if anyone whose singer machine still have the original decal with the special long "R" in good condition, could you kindly post a pic here? Your help will be greatly appreciated, thank you. Tony Edited October 14, 2017 by Parfektionisto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted October 14, 2017 9 hours ago, Parfektionisto said: Hi Al, Does it mean we have to manually hand painted the gold colour on the decals before sticking it on the machine? Tony, my experience with making decals is non-existent. Maybe ask Colt. Regards Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted October 21, 2018 The 45K25 is finally finished and has original, gold-leaf, Singer decals on it from Folker. He finds the best stuff. I'll clean them up a bit once they've setup and dried. I don't know if they're correct to the K25, but that's the way it'll have to be. Since I used authentic japan to restore the machine, I wanted to use authentic Singer decals, not reproductions, and that's what I had available. I'll update my japanning article with pictures and details for the members in the near future.......I'm sold on japanning. In the meantime, I would like to determine the age of the decals. Jimi posted the pictures below of a 29K33 that appear to have the same decals. I thought if I could date that machine, it would give me some idea of the age of my decals. The trouble is the serial number doesn't appear to have a letter prefix and the number, 524961?, doesn't show-up in the Singer production records. Can anyone shed some light on the serial number and/or the age of the decals? Here's a picture of the paper backing from the decals, if that helps, they're No. 7421. Thanks good people one and all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 21, 2018 WOW - thats a really nice restoration!!!! How did you apply the decals w/o flaking? I tried it once and it did not work very well. I guess you used this micro scale decal film stuff, right? Which have you used? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimi Report post Posted October 21, 2018 Excellent job Al! Looks like you just bought it new from Singer, and the decals came out great also. well done!! 3 hours ago, Constabulary said: How did you apply the decals w/o flaking Possibly the old decals used a fixing cement before they were applied?? but not sure. https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/industrial-transfers-and-art-decalcomania-collection-profile Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted October 22, 2018 (edited) Thanks for the kind words fellas. The work is far from like "new from Singer" as you said, Jimi. The japan turned out well, I'm pleased with it and will document the entire process for the members shortly. The decals I'm not so confident about, I've already ruined two of them experimenting with adhesives, and I've had to touch-up the two that are on the machine, they're a work in progress. Before I shoot my mouth off prematurely and lead someone astray, I need to clean off the extra glue and put on some type of a protective coating. About the age of Folker's decals that I asked about, are you able to read the serial number on the 29K above? Mark Rofini, a sewing machine dealer in the US, shows these 45K21 and 45K25, among others, on his website. Those decals appears to have the same long "R", so maybe Folker's decals are correct on the 45K25's. Singer class 45K 45K21 45K25 Edited October 22, 2018 by Evo160K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimi Report post Posted October 22, 2018 Nº-F524951 F- 514760 531759 29K 17000 January/June 1910 Clydebank, Scotland I think i remember reading somewhere that the Acanthus leaf decals were discontinued around 1920 so the swash on the R could be close to that also but not 100% sure Al. Possibly the best way would be if anyone here on the forum has an old singer with the long R, maybe they could say what S/N they have or the year if they know it?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constabulary Report post Posted October 22, 2018 (edited) I have a 96K with short R SN EB644609 which dates back to 1937 and my 133K3 once also had a short R and that machine was made in 1932. Maybe that helps to narrow down the time frame. Edited October 22, 2018 by Constabulary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonInReno Report post Posted October 22, 2018 Very nice restoration! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted October 23, 2018 19 hours ago, jimi said: Nº-F524951 F- 514760 531759 29K 17000 January/June 1910 Clydebank, Scotland I think i remember reading somewhere that the Acanthus leaf decals were discontinued around 1920 so the swash on the R could be close to that also but not 100% sure Al. Possibly the best way would be if anyone here on the forum has an old singer with the long R, maybe they could say what S/N they have or the year if they know it?? Yes, thank you Jimi, that does suggest Folker's vintage decals with the long R could be as old as 1910, perhaps older. In any case, after seeing your information and Mark Rofini's images, I feel more comfortable now using the decals on my 45K25. Thanks all for your input. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parfektionisto Report post Posted January 1, 2019 (edited) Hi Al, Your decal looks excellent on your restored 45k25, you are amazing! The decals are from Folker? It definitely looks like it’s the original decals for the machine. Pls show us how you transfer the decals onto your machine. I also notice you left the flywheel rim and the front cover unpainted, in raw silver metal finish, is that the original look of 45k25? Tony Edited January 1, 2019 by Parfektionisto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parfektionisto Report post Posted January 1, 2019 Hi Folker, Do you still have the old vintage decals you sold to Al? Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted January 1, 2019 10 hours ago, Parfektionisto said: Hi Al, Your decal looks excellent on your restored 45k25, you are amazing! The decals are from Folker? It definitely looks like it’s the original decals for the machine. Pls show us how you transfer the decals onto your machine. I also notice you left the flywheel rim and the front cover unpainted, in raw silver metal finish, is that the original look of 45k25? Tony Hi Tony, Thank you for the kind words. The nickel coated flywheel and face plate were on the machine when I received it, it must have come that way from the factory, nickel was an option. Yes, the decals did come from Folker. As far as applying them, I coated the back side of the decal, the side that goes next to the machine, with Microscale Micro Metal Foil Adhesive MI-8 and followed the product instructions. After letting them dry for a couple of weeks, I took a rubber eraser and metal eraser shield and carefully removed the adhesive that had squeezed out. For a protective coating, I used the Microscale Micro Coat Satin MI-5. It's been a couple of weeks now and it's quite hard to the fingernail. All in all I'm ecstatic with the result. While all of this decal search and research was going on, I ran into a fellow who said he could duplicate those Singer decals using real gold-leaf flake. Well I had my doubts, but here's the result. Enlarge the images and you'll see they even have the tan edging on the right sides and the straw color edging on the left sides like on Folker's original decals. The front and rear carrier films are still in place, so I'm sure the gold-leaf and colors will be even more vivid when they're removed. I've asked for another sample pair with slightly narrower black edging and wider tan and straw edgings... closer to the originals. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parfektionisto Report post Posted January 16, 2019 Hi Al, The reproduction decal looks good, have you tried fixing it onto your sewing machine? How much will this decal cost? Is that a real gold leaf? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted January 17, 2019 (edited) Hi Tony, Yes, the decals are actually 23kt. gold-leaf like Singer's (and Folker's) originals, they also have the tan color and straw color highlights. I don't have a machine needing decals at the moment, so I haven't applied them, but I don't anticipate a problem; they're pressure sensitive decals, no water involved, there's a peel-off film on the machine side that exposes the adhesive and a peel-off film on the front side that exposes the gold-leaf. They can be clear coated, but I'm told it's not necessary. The fellow expressed some concern about copyright laws, if any. The price is $10 per piece plus shipping with a minimum of 20 pair. Do you think some of the others would want to participate in that minimum? . Edited January 17, 2019 by Evo160K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parfektionisto Report post Posted September 13, 2019 On 1/17/2019 at 12:04 PM, Evo160K said: Hi Tony, Yes, the decals are actually 23kt. gold-leaf like Singer's (and Folker's) originals, they also have the tan color and straw color highlights. I don't have a machine needing decals at the moment, so I haven't applied them, but I don't anticipate a problem; they're pressure sensitive decals, no water involved, there's a peel-off film on the machine side that exposes the adhesive and a peel-off film on the front side that exposes the gold-leaf. They can be clear coated, but I'm told it's not necessary. The fellow expressed some concern about copyright laws, if any. The price is $10 per piece plus shipping with a minimum of 20 pair. Do you think some of the others would want to participate in that minimum? . Hi AI, 20 pieces is a bit too many for me when I have only 1 machine in need of the decals. Unless someone is willing to share the quantity. So to apply this decals onto the machines is just simple peel and paste? Tony Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evo160K Report post Posted September 13, 2019 Tony, Yes, the film on the back peels off to expose the adhesive, then the decal is pressed on. The protective film on the front peels off to reveal the gold-leaf and edge colors. Since you only need the two pieces, would you want to buy the pair of samples that I have, the ones shown above? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
