Derk’s new Universal carrier Mk 1*

[kevin powles]

You are doing a fantastic job there, watching with interest.

Kevin

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by derk derin

After owning a sewing machine for 12 years now it was time I used it. After spending some time cleaning it up, figuring out how to load the thread and get the tensions just right I tackled my first project, the canvas pouch that’s riveted to the inside lid of the crew locker. I must say it turned out alright!

Hello Derk,

Well, I was not expecting for your post to help me solve a mystery that I have been searching for an answer for over a couple of years now! I read your post and glanced at some of your photographs. Then I read on and went "hang-on"! So, I went back to have another look at the earlier page where I had first saw the photographs.

Thank you very much for posting the photographs of the machine as it has helped me out a lot. My Singer looks very similar to yours and it failed to duck itself down while I was lifting an engine from the floor to be stored on the back of a truck in my shed. I was left with the spool holder (?) and the silver wheel bit (?) that appears to be positioned just to the front of the belt. See adapted version of your photograph with red outlines added.

Since it was a fair time after I had bought the sewing machine and had not yet gotten around to using it - I did not have a clue where these two parts belong! Luckily for me these were the only two items that were dislodged during my the lifting the motor. Lesson learnt - do not store a sewing machine in front of a truck tray while using a mobile crane to lift an engine on to the truck bed.

Derk, have a guess at what the next question might just be? Here is a hint ... It just could be something about the possible alignment of some mystery parts.

P.S. Could you please provide some details of what looks like a Singer sewing machine - its model or serial number? I can find its year of manufacture through these codes. My Singer turned out to be a World War II era machine.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Grant Bowker]

I don't think the position of the thread supply holder is critical +/- an inch or two as the post can be turned which results in changing the fore/aft and left/right placement of the thread reels. Also, as far as I know, it isn't critical which peg the active reel is placed on.
The other deviceis a bobbin winder, driven by putting the wheel into contact with the sewing machine's drive belt. Alignment and placement need to be reasonably accurate for proper function. If your wayward engine damaged the bobbin winder assembly, they are readily available on ebay and elsewhere. Since they seem to be pretty standard, you can likely find existing holes in the table to mount your existing or replacement winder (likely the thread reel support too). Searching the make/model of your sewing machine will likely let you download a manual for it.

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

I don't think the position of the thread supply holder is critical +/- an inch or two as the post can be turned which results in changing the fore/aft and left/right placement of the thread reels. Also, as far as I know, it isn't critical which peg the active reel is placed on.
The other deviceis a bobbin winder, driven by putting the wheel into contact with the sewing machine's drive belt. Alignment and placement need to be reasonably accurate for proper function. If your wayward engine damaged the bobbin winder assembly, they are readily available on ebay and elsewhere. Since they seem to be pretty standard, you can likely find existing holes in the table to mount your existing or replacement winder (likely the thread reel support too). Searching the make/model of your sewing machine will likely let you download a manual for it.

Hello Grant,

Thank you for the detailed reply. I went into my shed late last night and knowing from Derk's photograph where the different parts should be positioned, I worked out the holes that secured the bobbin winder. I also worked out that I must be missing the thread supply post. It must have disappeared in the shed after the incident occurred. I did locate the three holes in the tabletop where the post mount was screwed into the frame. It really does help to know what you are looking at!

As a temporary measure, I will make a mount for the post out of wood. From my quick observations of the bobbin winder it needs a good soaking with some penetrant to loosen things up a lot. In the meantime I will search online of a spare parts catalogue to see if the base for the post is available. It was in its original state for over 70 years before it interacted with the engine. Since I am responsible for the damage I reckon I owe the machine that much to get it back to its original state. The only real damage was the top part of the post was considerably off skew. Luckily it straightened out okay. The bobbin winder is pretty robust and only had the screws ripped out of the tabletop. The post is significantly offset from the bobbin winder. The Singer's previous owner is a saddle maker and sewing machine was set up for work in their shop. So, it must have been set to work efficiently.

I will take a couple of photographs and take some measurements. I will post them up later today. However, at first I have to tame the grass around my house. It is summer here and there has been lots of heat and rain, so the grass grows before your eyes.

Kind regards
Lionel

[derk derin]

I ran my serial number of the Singer sewing machine through a Google search and came up with a date of manufacture, 1942 which I was interested to see. It must have wound up in some factory somewhere sewing up war material. If it could only talk! Wish they had log books like the aircraft would have detailing when and where it was!

[derk derin]

As far as operation of the machine it was a trials & errors for me as it was in storage and disassembled for years before I decided to start using it.
YouTube videos on the subject helped me understand many things about setting up the machine like how to load the spool of thread in the bobbin correctly and placing it in the sewing machine. Tension on the bobbin thread and sewing machine tension was critical in getting a nice tight stitch without breaking the thread. Trial & error! As far as the spool bobbin winder, that I had to figure out all on my own. Sitting for so many years left things gummed up and had to be lubricated. Nothing a tin of sewing machine oil didn’t fix.
The bobbin winder must be set up on the table so when the machine is running, the wheel isn’t turning. By placing an empty bobbin on the wonder you then push down on the bracket which puts the wheel up against the belt and allows the bobbin to spin. Run your thread through the tensioner at the other end and thread through the eyehole to guide it and once the thread fills the bobbin, the arm kicks off the wheel!

[derk derin]

The thread holder isn’t that critical. You could even set the spool of thread on the table, or a shelf. The one thing you want is the metal hook above the thread to guide it smoothly off the thread so it feeds the sewing machine unrestricted.

[derk derin]

I was at an old department store in downtown Winnipeg last week where they used to handle some military surplus back in the day. I like to stop in once in awhile for certain items. This time we’re the Bren Auxiliary shoulder straps. They have boxes of them and I realized they’re the proper width to make up the straps for the 19 set hold down straps. I can cut and sew them together to make the length I need as it’s impossible to find the proper material to make these straps up.
While I was there I spotted a pile of green material that looked exactly like the material on Carrier seats. They’re British military bedding stowage bags (whatever they’re used for?) and they were $5.00 each.

[derk derin]

I have been busy sewing up the seat cushions and they have the look of proper waterproof material the carrier seats were made of so I’m happy with it.
Of course while I was looking around the vast amount of stuff still in this old store I always find more than I bargain for. 1943 dated brushes, 1951 pattern L straps, a roll of 1950’s tie material which I always give away ties to whoever needs one for their battledress uniform, and various other items I think I will one day need!