jbone850 Report post Posted May 5, 2010 I am watching a Singer 97-10 on ebay. Ebay number is 200468193037. Does anybody know about these? I did some research and talked with the owner. Seems like a good machine. What are these normally worth? It looks to be way stronger than my buddies Ferco, and cheaper. I am new to this site, so any help would be greatly appreciated. The machine is in Michigan, USA somewhere. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Simple Google search returned this ... Singer 97-10 Many agree that the 97-10 is the best threaded needle stitcher ever built. This will sew an honest 1" of leather. The presser foot lifts to 1 1/4" high. The machine also features a 10" throat. The 97-10 has a needle feed with a jump foot like the FERDINAND BULL. This extremely heavy duty machine is on a cast ion standing work height stand so you can get large goods into it.. 'Course, that don't say anything about the condition of the one you're looking at ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted May 5, 2010 I am watching a Singer 97-10 on ebay. Ebay number is 200468193037. Does anybody know about these? I did some research and talked with the owner. Seems like a good machine. What are these normally worth? It looks to be way stronger than my buddies Ferco, and cheaper. I am new to this site, so any help would be greatly appreciated. The machine is in Michigan, USA somewhere. Thanks For the price range the seller is requesting you could purchase a brand new Cobra, or Cowboy, or Artisan, or Juki, or Techsew heavy stitcher, with a walking foot compound feed mechanism. You would get a perfectly tuned and tested machine, with a warranty and customer support, not to mention easy to replace parts and plenty of add-ons and accessories. Compare this to buying an old, out of manufacture for decades machine that is in a storage locker, for God knows how long, no factory support and hard to find (if at all) replacement parts. To me it is a no-brainer to buy a new machine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Wiz, I couldn't of said it better.Back in their day they were the machine to have but since parts are so hard to find,we only have # 27 needles in stock(that's all we can get)it just makes sense to buy a new machine for the same $$ & be able to get feet,needle plates & anything else you need. We do get 4-5 people a year wanting to trade them in on our New Cowboys & have to turn them down.The market is really shying away from the 97-10's Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted May 5, 2010 Wiz, I couldn't of said it better.Back in their day they were the machine to have but since parts are so hard to find,we only have # 27 needles in stock(that's all we can get)it just makes sense to buy a new machine for the same $ & be able to get feet,needle plates & anything else you need. We do get 4-5 people a year wanting to trade them in on our New Cowboys & have to turn them down.The market is really shying away from the 97-10's Bob @jbone850 The fellow who is quoted in the above reply sells the Cowboy brand stitchers. If you were willing to drive to Michigan to pickup a 97-10 monster machine, why not drive a little further down the road to Toledo, Ohio? You can actually try out his machines and learn to adjust and control them, from the supplier himself. You will get a lot more machine for the money you were about to throw away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted May 5, 2010 I used to be an old iron collector. I still am, but now I collect 221s and 222s and 301s. I still fool around with big iron, but the newer stuff you can get parts for. If you are just starting off, buy new. Pick a dealer that advertises here on leatherworker.net, call him and talk about your needs. $2200 or a little more gets you a new machine. There is no guarantee you would ever get that 97 running, you might, but there is a lot of leatherwork that won't be getting done while you are getting there. On old out of date iron, the parts that break are the ones that are hard to find. A lot of them have been modified to use a more common needle system, can you make that modification? What do you do if you screw-up a needle bar or worse, can you MAKE another or PAY to have one made; or you could be sewing away on your new machine. Can't remember when I have had to sew something 1" thick. A big thick holster welt MIGHT in someones imagination go 3/4 inch, but any respectable 441 is going to manage that. You don't need a 97. Please don't pay $2200 for that 97. That kind of money should get you a Museum quality piece, running damned near like the day it came from the factory (probably better). The 97 nowadays is worth practically nothing, in working order, something, maybe to the right person, but I wouldn't want it for haul-away. Unfortunately shoe repair shops are the worst, when the owner dies or they go belly-up, everyone thinks (well everyone but buyers) that the equipment is worth a fortune. They look at prices on newer up to date compact equipment and they think the old stuff is gold. Even the new stuff goes pretty cheap at the auction. An old shop just goes for haul-away. Art I am watching a Singer 97-10 on ebay. Ebay number is 200468193037. Does anybody know about these? I did some research and talked with the owner. Seems like a good machine. What are these normally worth? It looks to be way stronger than my buddies Ferco, and cheaper. I am new to this site, so any help would be greatly appreciated. The machine is in Michigan, USA somewhere. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
busted Report post Posted May 9, 2010 I am watching a Singer 97-10 on ebay. Ebay number is 200468193037. Does anybody know about these? I did some research and talked with the owner. Seems like a good machine. What are these normally worth? It looks to be way stronger than my buddies Ferco, and cheaper. I am new to this site, so any help would be greatly appreciated. The machine is in Michigan, USA somewhere. Thanks This will sew circles around the Ferdco. They will sew 1 1/4" material. If you can wait until Weavers has their auction in June you could probably by one for 6 or 7 hundred at the auction they aren't worth the 2200 that guy is asking. There are some parts still available but the decision is yours. They are a very good machine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordond Report post Posted May 11, 2010 just a general FYI:... I have a 97-6..had it for 27 years...all that I could buy at that time,but it paid it's way then. A lot of these are ex-Military and had a hard life- but are "still" servicable. think tarps and parachute webbing. there are a few of us around that have a Class 97[generally the 10] ,so could offer some help on parts ,manuals and general info. the original 3" leather point needles[97x4] are virtually or all gone. there is stock of the 3" round[conical] point needles [97x3] ..held by Groz in Germany.[sizes 27,28,29] I might be wong ,but it looks like there a few parts missing -but not critical ones?[photos are unclear] I can send you copies of the Singer sales brochures...[inc' drawings of a complete machine,work capabilities,so-on] But I wouldn't stake my sole income on that one machine. My situation, even now in this part of the world ,there is really no backup service anyway.... don't have the selection of new machines as noted above...nearest dealer of these is in Australia. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
