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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Heidelberg, Victoria
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    79
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    Default Singer 29K13 restoration article

    Many years ago I purchased a Singer 29K13 boot patcher. It's a beautiful old sewing machine, a marvel of engineering.

    It had a few problems, so I investigated, and corrected the problems.

    The following link describes how I went about it. It contains some humorous sound effects. Double click on the speaker icons for sound. Click away from the icon to scroll down, else the sound will stop.

    Thanks to DJ for making this post possible.

    https://www.woodworkforums.com/video/Singer%2029K13.doc

    Ken
    Attached Images Attached Images

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
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    74
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    Default

    Hi Ken,

    Great work, and interesting story well told. Good to see a classic machine come back to life.

    Co-incidentally Josh has taken to a bit leatherwork recently, and we spent some time wandering around Lefflers a week or so back. Amazing place..

    If you are interested I'll post some pictures of his leatherwork.

    Regards
    Ray

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Heidelberg, Victoria
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    79
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    2,251

    Default Leather work

    Hi Ray, would love to see some of Josh's leatherwork. Leather is great material to work with, it's so forgiving.

    He might like to view this post.

    https://www.woodworkforums.com/f258/l...-tools-161023/

    Ken

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    7,775

    Default

    Hi Ken,
    +1 to the great work. Good for another 100 years.

    Stuart

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
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    Default canvas

    That's a beauty .

    I do a bit of canvas work, owning an old Land Rover means making canvas tops and seat covers and so on. Rather than pay a automotive trimmer to do it, I bought a walking foot machine and taught myself .

    The industrial machines are generally fast sewers : faster = better economy in the factories , but it takes ages to cope with the speed . I made up a speed reducing pulley system . I turned up the pullies on my Sheraton lathe . The machine is now a lot easier to cope with .

    BTW the ubiquitous Singer 132K6 is considered to be the best all round machine for canvas and stuff like that, parts are no problem for those machines . I have a Consew 226 , which is a Jap copy of the Singer 111W series of the 1940's . It has refinements like reverse , the downside is it's got a small bobbin .

    It is another hobby ...Mike

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay Qld
    Posts
    3,466

    Default

    Top stuff Ken.
    Well done Sir!
    For me it ticks all the boxes

    Repair or refurbishment of Old iron that has had a long productive life. It is also an item of style and grace not seen or enjoyed for too many years now. Too bad about the stool.

    Gran had a foot treadle Singer ordinary sewing machine with wooden drawers attached to it I liked for the enameled (?) cast iron. Someone made me a coin pouch on the very same machine that I still enjoy using today.

    Sadly, the era of a well made production item is nearly gone.

    I suppose I can be accused of living in the past more and more as I get older, but hey, I like it there.

    Cheers Grahame

  8. #7
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    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
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    Default

    I have 5 industrial sewing machines one is a 29k71 later model of the 13, I am about to pull it down and do a little bit of repair,it has been running since the fifties and has become a bit sporadic so it is time to find out why.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Heidelberg, Victoria
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    Default What do you make

    Hi China,

    Well done, what do you use your machines for?

    Ken

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,650

    Default

    KJ,

    I was looking at a more recent model this morning at a shopping centre kiosk. Grey in colour with the Singer logo nearly worn off. Looked out of place amidst its surroundings. But it did look like it still worked for a living. Those machines has always had a strong appeal. The trussed arm transforms the sewing machine from a dainty thing used for making pyjamas to something far more mechanical and serious looking.

    BT

  11. #10
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    Default Maybe not a Singer

    Hi AB,

    Chances are the machine you were looking at was not a Singer. When Singer stopped making the 29K series, the Japs took over and still produce the boot patcher today.

    They are all painted grey. I think the designation is U29.

    They did a good job, but it's not a Singer.

    Ken

  12. #11
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    Nov 2008
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    Perth WA
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by neksmerj View Post
    Hi AB,

    Chances are the machine you were looking at was not a Singer. When Singer stopped making the 29K series, the Japs took over and still produce the boot patcher today.

    They are all painted grey. I think the designation is U29.

    They did a good job, but it's not a Singer.

    Ken
    I might have tricked myself Ken. The machine I looked at had a couple of knurled thumbscrews on the truss. One of which was graduated. A quick look on Google Images shows ring-ins with the screws but not the Singer. If it was close by I'd have another look.

    Bob.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,470

    Default

    Hi Ken,

    I use my machines for leatherwork,( and the odd canvas blind, horse blanket, ute cover, that seem to find me) I originally purcahsed a very well priced 132K6 to make myself a cover for my mobile phone. I have always toyed with leatherwork, the 29k was given to me by my local fish shop owner who's father use to be a boot repairer said he'd rather see it being used than gathering dust in the shed, it is a bue grey hamertone original paint, made in 1952 at Kilbowie Scotland very handy machine for sewing on patches as it can sew in any direction, although compared to my other machines it is light duty.
    I am now getting a few commission jobs, just did a medieval wedding which was realy intersting and you guessed it I never did make the moble phone cover.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    The Fabulous Gold-plated Coast.
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    69
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    Default

    Well done, Ken! I have always liked Singers since I went to sleep as a lad with the gentle hum of Mom making something on her 301. I bought Heather a 222K Featherweight for her quilting classes many years ago, but it turned out to be more of an object of fascination for me than her. We have seen a few 221s and 222s go through here. 301s too. I would very much like to find a machine like yours. Too bad the Juki and Consew machines seem so much more common.

    Greg, a sucker for ornate gold decal decorations on a high gloss black japan finish.

    PS...I use Cut n' Sew in LA for repair parts, needles and thread.

    Greg
    It's all part of the service here at The House of Pain™

  15. #14
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    Nov 2006
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    Heidelberg, Victoria
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    Default A little too too

    Hi Greg,

    I can just imagine you sitting down to a sewing machine and running up a little too too, in pink chiffon to match the lippy.

    Thanks for the tip re parts from the States. My boot maker mate has a clever service man who seems to be able to source spare parts for the Singer.

    The only part that was missing on my machine, was a thumb screw. Took a while to sort that out as Singer seem to have their own propriety thread system.

    Leffler still carry the industrial leather point needles in various sizes, plus cotton or bonded nylon, and the threading wire that's required to thread the boot patcher up.

    You're lippy is a little smeared!

    Ken

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    near Cooyar, (Toowoomba-ish), Qld
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    59
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    Default

    Good little story-thanks!
    We have a 29k13 also-and instruction book- but you can get a download of that nowdays anyway.
    It was full of mud-wasp nests & dust when we got it, but a decent cleaning & oiling & it works well enough.
    We use it for sewing ornamental designs in the upholstery of buggy & sulky seat falls etc.

    Also have a couple of 45K machines-that's what started the interest-sewing harness for our horses-and the first machine we bought didn't work at all-a grub screw was missing & the timing was way off. It took 3 days to figure that out & fix it & learn all about sewing machines in the process-great stuff-you really have to admire the ingenuity of the makers!

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