Thanks Steve --- Looks like we addressed the bobbin length issue at the same tiime. Interesting that yours fit into the shuttle though it was not the correct one. The 2 that came with the machine are slightly different (and I have a few others that came with the 28s) so I'll switch things around.
Before you matched things up properly, was the distance between the winder and the wheel as large as in my case?
How can you identify a correct Singer 12 bobbin - other than by trial and error?
Yes, the needle clamp is missing -- I wonder if someone gutted a 12 and has an extra.
We found a 12 needle clamp in England, so I think I'll go for that one. I have to assume that even though there are different types of clamps, the Needle Bar itself remained the same, and in that case any Singer 12 clamp should fit???? (Can you imagine the difficulties we would have trying to fix up these old machines
without the internet????!! Interesting how going forward helps us go back
)
So, the way I see it, you need 3 hands to get a bobbin loaded:
hand 1 -- press the winder against the handwheel and keep it there
hand 2 -- turn the hand crank
hand 3 -- guide the thread back and forth to load he bobbin
???