29k mystery

[danhopgood]

I've just got a 29k15 that I bought minus lots of missing parts. I have now got it sewing - luckily the bits missing were available as new parts.   The shuttle timing was all wrong as the machine had been stripped, cleaned  and partly reassembled, but thanks to other posts on this forum I was able to put that right so thank you other posters.

 I am puzzled by the shuttle mechanism though.   I've read on this forum there are three types of pinion system - an early two pinion system, a later, three pinion system and finally the two pinion system fitted to the last Singers and the later clone machines.  I was expecting my machine to have the early two pinion system, but it has three pinions.  Presumably my machine has been repaired and modified somehow in the past?

[Constabulary]

Why should it be modified? I don´t think someone would retrofit a patcher machine with a different gear box.

Regarding pinions - there are at least 3 different sizes of pinions among the 29 / 29K series but I think at least 4 different gear boxes. Your machine appears to be a very early one made somewhere between 1900 and and early 1920´s or so.

Please post some pictures if you don´t mind.

[jimi]

I Have a 29k12 which had the same 3 pinion system as yours, but back then i was told there were no parts for it so i swapped the bottom arm with a 29k4 which i was able to get pinions for back then. Now the 29k4 pinions are not available either. ( back then was +20 yrs ago) One pinion was the same size as the 29k4 and i think the leading pinion was with a smaller blank piece at the top(where the teeth were not cut out).

[danhopgood]

Thanks for the replies - already I think the mystery has been solved.  Having seen your post Jimi, I went and checked the .pdf Singer parts book I downloaded that runs all the way from the 29k1 up into the k30's.  

Checking the pinon part numbers in the book, the k12, k13, k14, k15 and k16 are different to both the earlier machines and later ones and manufactured with three round pinions, as mine has.  Therefore I've revised my thinking and that my machine isn't modified, but is as it was made in 1911.

Perhaps I misinterpreted the post I read elsewhere on the forum.  I suppose it doesn't actually matter which pinion system is on my machine as parts aren't available for any of the options anyway.   I think the pinions I have have got some life left in 'em yet, so I'll just have to look after them.

Some pics and a link follow.  

https://danhopgood.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/1shot_20190709_1239151.jpg 

https://danhopgood.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/1shot_20190709_1239311.jpg

https://danhopgood.wordpress.com/2019/07/05/singer-29-new-parts-on-old-machines/

 

Edited July 9, 2019 by danhopgood
typo

[jimi]

6 hours ago, danhopgood said:

Checking the pinon part numbers in the book

Very nice job on the machine danhopgood . beware with the bell crank, i think you might need to file again?? same as the feed motion ring, it is a hair thicker so when you put the head back on it jams!! I think i put a sheet of paper in between. Seems like the leading pinion i was on about earlier must have been from another machine?? my mistake, these ones went with a fine pin.

Edited July 9, 2019 by jimi

[danhopgood]

Jimi,

Thanks for your kind words and you were spot on to say I'd need to file again.  I had to file down the circular section of the bellcrank to stop it jamming and then once I'd sorted that discovered the forked section iof the bellcrank is over a millimetre thicker than the central presser bar, so the presser bar flops about and adds a load of slop.  I'll have to file that down too to get it working as well as the old part.  Not great at all really.  Even when I've done that the stitch length won't relly be any longer.  I think the new machines that go up to 5 stitches per inch must have a higher lift on the circular ring to get the extra length.

[danhopgood]

I pushed hte boat out and got a replacement , new, presser bar for a "71", which did fit the "15".  Took a bit of work to get the taper pin to fit snugly, but once that was done things have been looking up.  Nearly all play has been removed and I'm down to 6 stitches per inch, which is as good as it's going to get on a machine where the original spec is 7 stitches an inch.   I'm happy with it now, although I'm working on converting my home built treadle table (for a domestic) to suit the 29k.  I realise the gearing will be wrong, so I'm using a reduction arrangement with two pulleys.   Diameter of the treadle table wheel is 14".  I'm taking that to a 6" wheel, then from a 4 1/2" wheel to the machine.  That I'm hoping by guesswork of the diameter of the original treadle wheel at 250mm should give roughly the same gearing. 

[jimi]

Hi There, Good to hear you got the machine going a bit better, the treadle pullys are Aprox. 250 like you said and 210 the smaller one. I found a few parts for the 29k and have them on sale here, you might be able to use one of the pinions for your 15 if you need new ones. they are listed in services at the bottom of the page. Jimi.

[danhopgood]

Jimi,

Sorry I was mixing my units up there - for 250mm read 10".  It's helpful of you to confirm I wasn't too far out with my my guesswork on the treadle wheel diameter.  Saw your advert - the 8608 following pinion would fit my machine - thankfully there's not too much play in the shuttle drive on my machine, so I'll let the old parts soldier on I think - they're only 108 years old after all. 

I went to Scotland on holiday a couple of weeks ago and went to Clydebank Town Hall. where they have some interesting Singer machines on display - including a 29k (58), along with some of the history.  From the serial number, my machine was made sometime between July and December 1911.  It was interesting to be reminded when at the museum that the manufacture date on my machine was very soon after a serious strike, which ended in April 1911.  It obviously didn't affect the quality of the machine.....

Edited July 29, 2019 by danhopgood
typo