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-   -   Can I use a more standard singer shuttle for my Kayser treadle machine? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/can-i-use-more-standard-singer-shuttle-my-kayser-treadle-machine-t265920.html)

Medieval Masterworks 06-02-2015 08:30 AM

Can I use a more standard singer shuttle for my Kayser treadle machine?
 
1 Attachment(s)
So I recently came to acquire a very lovely Kayser Stuttgart sewing machine. Other than the damaged shuttle and a wrong insert plate it is perfectly functional and complete. I am working to refurbish it to functionality as I want a fully portable machine for my merchant booth (where there is often no electricity, frequently no water, and I am living out of a car).

I however know next to nothing about the machine other than how it works and how to keep it running. I got it from it's previous owner who told me that it was working about 20 years ago before being shoved into the closet until recently. According to her it was being often used for quilting before her forced retirement from the activity.

My question is how I could replace the unfortunately damaged shuttle, the screw is rusty and the spring is broken around the location where the tension screw holds it in place. Hopefully I can get a standard singer or wight model, but when I looked into the whole affair it looks as if I need one from the company that made the machine.

As most of my attempts to even find a similar machine online were fraught with floods and floods of Singers, and only a couple of relevant articles that didn't have any information about the shuttles, I feel a little stymied.

I would post more pictures of the machine, but my photos are a bit big for uploading.

Help would be appreciated, I would love to be able to use this machine to it's capacity for my business.

Macybaby 06-02-2015 09:03 AM

the machines I've seen have a lot of similarities to the Singer, so you could try a Singer shuttle (very easy to obtain) and see how it goes.

BTW - don't look for a Standard shuttle, as that is something very different from a Singer shuttle.

if you can take very detailed pictures with measurements, I'll compare it to the different US mfg ones I have and see if we can find one that appears similar enough to work.

Medieval Masterworks 06-02-2015 09:58 AM

5 Attachment(s)
length: 1.950in
internal diameter: .375 to .380in
External diameter: .461in
bobbin length: 1.34in
bobbin diameter: .360in
setscrew hole diameter: .072in
[ATTACH=CONFIG]521321[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521322[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521323[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521323[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521324[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521325[/ATTACH]

I think that a 2 inch singer one might work, the shuttle has a bit of wear (almost enough to account for the 40 thousandths). The last photo is a back view, I'm not exactly sure if the long diagonal slit is common.

Thanks for the help.

Julia

Medieval Masterworks 06-02-2015 10:07 AM

5 Attachment(s)
Here's some photos of the machine. [ATTACH=CONFIG]521326[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521329[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521330[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521331[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521332[/ATTACH] right now the head is off of the cabinet because I'm working on cleaning it. But the treadle is the original one, in excellent condition, and works. I'm going to put the belt on when I get it ready to start running.

Glenn 06-02-2015 01:31 PM

How interesting I have the same machine in a treadle and it sews great. I will have to check my shuttles out and see what i can find that will work.

Medieval Masterworks 06-02-2015 03:33 PM


Originally Posted by Glenn (Post 7214689)
How interesting I have the same machine in a treadle and it sews great. I will have to check my shuttles out and see what i can find that will work.

Thank you, the information would be greatly appreciated. I think that I'm going to try a two inch singer 27 to start, meanwhile keep an eye out for a Kayser shuttle.

Julia

Freaky_Quilts_Dragon 06-02-2015 05:27 PM

That is a fascinating machine. I've never seen a bobbin winder that's anything like that. And I love the tooling on the face plate. I think you'll be drawing crowds to your booth with this beauty!

Glen, I'm looking forward to reading what you find out about shuttle compatibility. Keep in mind to try different sized needles it can sometimes affect if a different shuttle works or not.

HelenAnn 06-02-2015 06:43 PM

I would soak the shuttle in evaporust and then polish it up it may work.
HelenAnn

Freaky_Quilts_Dragon 06-02-2015 07:36 PM


Originally Posted by HelenAnn (Post 7214992)
I would soak the shuttle in evaporust and then polish it up it may work. HelenAnn

Maybe. You'd still need to remake the spring.

Medieval Masterworks 06-02-2015 08:44 PM


Originally Posted by Freaky_Quilts_Dragon (Post 7215012)
Maybe. You'd still need to remake the spring.

Yeah, if it weren't for the broken, potentially bent, spring, I would have already had it operational. I was also told by the sewing machine repair shop I took it to that running a machine with the shuttle that rusty and pitted might not be a good idea.

Part of what caught my eye on this guy was the bobbin winder and reverse lever on him. I lucked out on him using standard needles, a fact that I am ecstatic about.

I intend on using the machine mostly for leather, with a few cloth pieces interspersed. I will not be doing anything like shoes, mostly garments and bags. A friend of mine has a comparable age and size singer that he uses for shoes to excellent effect.

The reason why I want a portable workstation is that I catch more eyes and end up selling more when I'm working on the spot and can do improv impulse buys for people. As of now all of my sewing has been done by hand, either with a stitching awl or with endless elaborate braiding. Which drives my cost up.

I would have gone electric, but I need to be able to stop on the needle raise or needle fall, and after using my Dad's industrial (yes the thing is actually industrial) Juki to stitch through my fingers because it went too fast, I wanted a slower paced machine. My Mom found this guy in La Grande and I fell in love with him. Which is good, because if I hadn't felt a connection towards the machine I don't think I would ever get good work from him.

Julia

Glenn 06-03-2015 01:56 PM

I played with shuttle today. What I found was the Singer 15 shuttle works as well as my original shuttle for Kayser. The 15X1 needle will be just fine too. I am still playing so maybe I can find another that works.
Skip

Glenn 06-03-2015 04:13 PM

Kayser with Singer 15 shuttle
 
3 Attachment(s)
I have tried the Singer 15 in my Kayser and the stitch quality is the same as the original shuttle. I found a couple of the shuttles the right size but the little divet by the point that fits the front of the shuttle carrier is in the wrong place and will not let the shuttle sit properly. The 15 was very smooth operating also. Here is a pics of the 15 in the machine and the sample stitches.[ATTACH=CONFIG]521453[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521454[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521455[/ATTACH]I see I need to replace my oil wick for the shuttle

greywuuf 06-03-2015 06:38 PM

there was a singer 15 that took a shuttle ?

Freaky_Quilts_Dragon 06-04-2015 05:59 AM

Yay! *claps hands and dances around* I'm so happy for you and you're new machine! For a shuttle oiling wick, I just use whatever bit of cloth I find that's a bit spongy and cut it to shape. Right now there's a teeny bit of sock in my Davis.

Macybaby 06-04-2015 06:10 AM

greywuuf - he is referring the the BOYE # of the shuttle, which for Singer, is #15.

Totally unrelated to a Singer model 15 sewing machine.

BOYE sold 12 styles of aftermarket shuttles for the most common US machines of the time. I've got machines that take 11 of them, still looking for a very early Eldredge that takes the original longer version of the shuttle that later National machines took.

BTW - Boye groups the numbers for shuttle/needle together, so that is why even though there are only 12 styles of shuttles, they go up to something like #26 or #27. And as time went on, Boye added some half size needles in between. And the very early items had a slightly different numbering system . . .

Sewnoma 06-04-2015 06:11 AM

I think you will DEFINITELY see more traffic in your booth with a treadle set up! It would certainly draw me over! People are going to love that. :)

Freaky_Quilts_Dragon 06-04-2015 06:26 AM


Originally Posted by Sewnoma (Post 7216449)
I think you will DEFINITELY see more traffic in your booth with a treadle set up! It would certainly draw me over! People are going to love that. :)

You're going to get costume lovers *and* sewing machine dorks!

Sewnoma 06-04-2015 06:30 AM


Originally Posted by Freaky_Quilts_Dragon (Post 7216462)
You're going to get costume lovers *and* sewing machine dorks!

And kids, too!

jbj137 06-04-2015 09:57 AM

***
*** W*O*W* it looks so good it is a shame about the shuttle rust .
***

Rodney 06-05-2015 06:00 AM

Would that be the same as a Singer model 128 shuttle? The machine has some superficial similarities to a 128.
Germany was also pretty good at copying other countries machines. I wouldn't be too surprised if that was the case here.
If you plan to clean the machine up please read the stickies on cleaning and watch Muv's videos so you don't damage your machine.
Also, I see a lot of old oil varnished on your machine's shiny bits. Alcohol is great at dissolving the old oil but take the parts off the machine first. It will also dissolve your shellac clear coat.
Rodney

Rodney 06-05-2015 06:06 AM

Is there a motor/hand crank boss on the end of the machine? I was wondering if a reproduction Singer hand crank might fit it. If one does, the machine will be far easier to lug around and set up than the treadle will be.
Rodney

Glenn 06-05-2015 01:24 PM

Rodney my Kayser does not have a motor boss.


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