Singer 29K72 Barn Find Project

[JJN]

I have to stop looking on FB Marketplace and Craigslist. I found this Singer 29K72 for sale that I thought looked to be in pretty good shape. For some reason I felt I needed to have a large bobbin patcher and this one had a good price. The listing had a $100 price on it. I committed to buy it quickly but they felt they needed to get $200 now. I didn't quibble. The only problem now was that it was in Washington, about an hour from the Canadian border. That is about 515 miles from where I live in southern Oregon. My lovely wife said we could use a mini vacation so we hooked up the travel trailer (toy hauler) and made a 3 day trip out of it. I also picked up a Singer 16-188 with servo motor and speed reducer that was in Washington to help make the trip worthwhile.

The 29K72 had more rust on it than I thought it had from the photos, but it was complete and the hand wheel turned freely. Storing a sewing machine in an open air barn for a couple years is not good. It came on a Sutton stand that looks like another project for me. I'll post some photos of that in another topic.

Take a look at these photos and if you can, give me your advice on rust removal and how much do you think I should disassemble the machine to properly clean and lubricate it.

The serial number starts with EY. I looked at ISMACS and the records stop at EX. I figure it might be from the late 1960's.

 

Edited October 26, 2020 by JJN

[Constabulary]

I have seen poorer machines that turned out very nice and functional. The thread lever adjuster is missing a nut as it seems (see picture). If you remove the gear box you may find a date stamped on. My 29K71 also is an EY and if I recall correctly my gearbox had a 64 or 67 date on it.

This was mine when I found it:

Edited October 26, 2020 by Constabulary

[JJN]

@Constabulary, thanks for the ink and information. Good eye seeing that the nut is missing. That is part #8 on the diagram, right? I found the manual on this forum that shows how to service this machine. I would like to move the hand wheel to the front. It looks like I need the parts in the assembly #21 in the photo below. Are these parts available?

[JJN]

@Constabulary, I forgot to mention, that is a very nice post about your 29k71 restoration. It has inspired me to get busy and make my machine beautiful again.

[Constabulary]

Yes, its nut #8.

Reg. the front wheel - I don´t know where in the US you can buy all the parts but I guess Toledo Sewing Machines is a good source. I bought mine from College Sewing in the UK. But I´m on the other side of the pond.

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/parts-by-machine/singer-sewing-machine-parts/singer-29k-71-parts

But first check if you have a gear on the top shaft. Its mounted in front of the cam.