The Upholstery Forum

Smooooth wrote: ↑Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:57 am

davemac2 wrote: When I search for these machines, I search under all kinds of titles.

Great point to bring out for sure!!! (Should be a sticky of some sort)

Lots of flexibility in searching.

Main terms I 'started' with are:
Industrial Sewing
Commercial Sewing
Heavy Sewing
Leather Sewing (you might be surprised what shows up)

Lol. How funny. I've never used 'Commercial Sewing' as a search. Just did on Offerup search with that and up popped a Nakajima 280L walking foot machine a few miles from my house! The ad did not even state it was a walking foot or a Nakjima, but the pic which had the model # did. So there you go. The search terms can make a big difference for these.

If anyone is close to the CA Bay area and looking, this machine appears to be an older singer 111W/Juki style walking foot clone machine (maybe Seiko?) for $150 which is a great price with table and motor (probably a clutch motor). https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/app/d/ ... 01753.html

@davemac2
I didn't know about OfferUp.. And sure enought there is Seiko branded Consew 226R for sale and guy willing to do it for $200. Clutch motor, but still. I don't know why I need second one but for some reason I think I should get it.

Ok, guys. You responsible for $200 out of my pocket. Machine is definitely needs some TLC. If I knew it would fit into my table I would live table it came with. Now I need to figure out how to dispose of it. It's rusted and top is bent. I may restore bottom though because it's old school and seems sturdy. But clutch motor will have to go.

Congratulations Ivan. Good backup machine at least right? I assume you mean the table top is warped and not the machine head itself?

I'm just being inquisitive, since I've been interested in this craft I have studied sewing machines and I was wondering if the Singer was the benchmark for all others since they all look like singers with different names and different origins of birth?

From what I understand the Singer was copied.

@IvanD

Nice grab!!! Also, just watched Alexander Dyer video on a Refurb of the Pfaff 1245. Another Very Nice Machine.......

BigRig wrote:From what I understand the Singer was copied.

Yes, and some would also say that certain copies are more refined.

@Smooooth Yes, my primary machine is PFAFF 1245, very nice but this one have "soul" it seems and I will have to figure it out.

Just for the info, what I know..
Singer licensed manufacturing to Japanese companies.
Seiko was making Consew machines until they moved production to China. 206RB-5 made in China. There is still same Seiko made in Japan though (STH-8BLD). Consew 226R is exact same machine as this Seiko I got. Not copy. They were made at the same factory, same time just labeled differently.
Consew 226R is the same as 225 but with reverse.
Consew 225/226 is very similar (same??) as 206RB but with smaller bobbin. It was a "thing" when they were sold initially to mod them with big bobbin/shuttle. Some dealers did that.

This machine is a clone/descendant of Singer 111 just like Juki 562/563 and some others. John got 562 (smaller bobbin) and it looks like our machines pretty much the same.

It doesn't sew great, skips stitches. Filthy, needs cleaning and most likely adjusting. I don't see anything really wrong with it but it's not working either. After some TLC it should be a good backup. To be honest I don't know why I bought it. I'm glad it mounts in my current table perfectly with a same belt and I don't have to worry about second table yet.

When I said "warped top" - yes, I ment table of course. So, will see where it goes. Right now it's just a fun/hobby project to get it cleaned and running. Maybe I will dial it to do top stitching with 138 thread.

Thanks everyone for your insight and descriptive explanation on this subject. I'm into old iron and collect mechanical things so next time I have a few extra bucks I may snag a "clone" or two.

Just a quick update. After I got this Seiko I realized I have 1 table and 2 heads. Had to fix that. Table which came with machine had really sturdy/solid frame also old/rusted. And top was bent. So, I got butcher block from a friend and went to make new table. Legs sent for sandblasting, will repaint in black. Going to install nice servo motor on this new table and probably use this table with my PFAFF machine. Will have my current table with basic servo for this Seiko head..

Progress of top making. Glued some veneer to cover edges. 2 hours drilling/routing and I got it all done. Will cut belt slit later on when I get all together and machine mounted. Finishing of top will consist of stain/poly, but that will be after I have it all together, adjusted, etc. Will take it apart for sanding/finishing.

Great Job!!!!

Really nice work. I am sure you the old legs and table will be super steady but for $200 dollars my machine guy sells new table with servo motor.

@Jayscanvas
Yep. It’s total nonsense from financial standpoint. I paid $100 to sandblast old frame. It’s going to be mine and personal with a story behind. But no savings here. And I got fancy 1100 watt servo coming in.. not cheap either.

@IvanD That will probably be the nicest machine table ive ever seen once its finished!

Table legs in progress. They got 2 layers of primer now ready for paint. Weather is not cooperating in MO to spray outside so I'm waiting for at least 40F to do final layer.

Just purchased a new Adler 867 Eco. Ive worked with a Consew 206rb1 for a while and a juki. Going to put this one through its paces and see what it can do. Should receive it in about a week.

The Adler 867 is probably the best machine out there now and I plan on purchasing one day still a little out of my price range

I want it.