Gregg From Keystone Sewing

I don't want to sound like a clown, and don't want to come across the wrong way, but I do want to say this information is way of the mark in many ways.

Consew 206RB-5 is a bottom loader, very good quailty design, very reliable machine. Consew 255RB-3 (-3) is the newst model with stitch length dial and considered Consew's flagship walking foot machine, top loader. Both are very good options.

Machine is ready, just have to put a stand up under it, over hang, like we spoke about. I have more, this on is especially clean.

I have some parts to order for a 145 that we are reconditioning, and some items are through the roof! One is a stud for 35, other is a push rod for 71, and that's cost! Don't think I'm in any different position here than you guys! BTW, and like I said, we have a 335 here missing some parts, and I may wind up just junking it; putting it together, paying $450 for the necessary parts, puttning a stand up under it...it's just not worth it, and nobody is going to pay for it.

Laplander, I have a good condition Pfaff 335, too, and it's missing some parts...feed, hook support plate, and some other stuff, does not look too bad...but I need five separate parts, and the cost outweighs the benefits of me putting it together. Like my Dad would say about Pfaff (and Adler), if you want to run their machines, you have to pay their prices. It's always been that way, kind of like BMW or Mercedes. BTW, about generic parts, I always offer genuine and generic, and would have been glad to if replacements were available to me.

Thanks for the inquiries and views (more than expected in under 24 hours, wow)...it's too late to modifiy my initial post, but asking is 1,000 or best offer per machine, sorry for any confusion with this, thanks!

Correct needle for Singer 31-15 is system 16X87 (same needle cross references with 71X1, 16X73, or SY1526) This is the system, but you also have to designate the size, so when ordering you would say for example "System 16X87, size 90 (or size 14)' You can us what you want if it works, but my customers count on me to do things 'by the book', and it sure helps when customers show up later to reorder needles!

As stated, two are in stock, where is, as is, $1,000 or BO, FOB Philadelphia, PA. We are sewing machine dealers, and do refurbish equipment, just not these. We cannot provide parts, service, or support for these machines if you are to buy them. These machines are in our shop, and I will be absolutely more than happy to do everything I can to relay to you the actual current condition, to the best of my ability, and can provide images, closes ups, glamor shots, whatever! Just let me know. Keystone Sewing Machine Company, Inc. Gregg O'Neill 833 North 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19123 USA 215/922.6900 Fax: 215/238.0270 info@keysew.com www.keysew.com Hours: M ~ F 8:30 until 4:45 EST

I stock, sell,and setup machines with both 500GR and Consew CSM-550...I would never recommend a Consew CSM-550 motor for what the 45K is intented to be used for, as this would under power the machine, IMO. Hope this helps!

Thanks for the call, sorry I got sidetracked, Lois picked up, she's been selling parts and needles for over 30 years and can run circles around me anyway!

turbotexas, I have system 97X3 in size 330/30 avaible. I call or email for price, contact info is under my profile.

Country of manufacturer aside, these are very different machines of course.

TurboTexas, Overhand space saver stand like you have pictured is +$75, see the difference between subclasses can be see here; Singer 153W class

I have a number of these, one of my best looking ones is still here for sale, see my product page; Singer 153W102 Keep in mind price listed includes shipping, warranty, new powerstand, new servo motor, and is setup sewn off.

I've been around these machines all my life with my work, and being around my Dad, and I can say not many people have the reverence for this equipment enough to warrant this kind of detail to attention. I'm very impressed. Great job, and thanks for sharing.

Ray, Sounds like someone is referring to a walking foot machine with labor saving devices, also known as an underbed trimmer (UBT), or full function machine. Can't do anything more or less than a regular walking foot, if you will, but has features that would assist the operator such as auto back tack, auto foot lift, needle positioner, underbed trimmers, and may have a programmer or control panel that would allow you to do auto back tack at start of a run, end of run, etc. Good reference machine would be Juki LU-1510-7, or a HIghlead GC20618-1-D Hope this helps.

Like Bob says, Mercury is one of the very worst branded machines I've ever seen, and that's saying somthing these days at this point. RUN!

Super cool thread and posts amuckart, I very much value the experices customers have with thier sewing prodcuts, and what the real outcomes are. In my positon, I get to hear a lot of stories, and often am left wonding how thing really went down! One of the somewhat surprising things I found on this brand/factory is that the hook, from the one that I seen was titanium nitrate (same hook, but different machine) that look good, but, was not. Soft metal, not genuine Koban or Hirose for sure. If the hook is not made properly, good luck getting the machine to do much of anything. On the new out of the box Cowboy model we seen that we fixed up, one of the first things we did is handed the hook back to the customer, so they could inspect, and put a new hook in, genuine Koban in this case. I'll continue to follow this thread, really apprecate this reporting.

Yup, no doubt. Singer brought in Adlers & Seikos at one time. Lots of brands bring in machines from all over the place. Even IMO the most established brand by todays standards, Juki, has literally hundreds of suppliers for parts OEM that go into their machines. A lot of this came about when Japan had that natural disaster a while back. People are mistaken if they believe everything is all made under one roof, and this has been the case for decades, not just with the advent of Chinese equipment.

Art, TSC-441 copies are a bit safer, you would think. You can find genuine and generic replacement parts, and usually the frame casting is going to be at least decent from one of the better factories. I've seen some more exotic stuff like heavy zig zag machines come direct that, IMO, were a complete disaster, and needed extensive work to function properly. And this is coming from a brand name everybody here knows very well.

Very interesting. A lot of sewing dealers would like to bury their heads in the sand, and pretend that customers do not have options like this available to them. I've known quite a few folks who bring in machines direct, with mixed results. Some were less than thrilled, to say the least, and a few were happy with their purchase. I guess a lot has to go into what your level of expectations are and how handy you are with setting up sewing machines, more or less. The one thing I can say for sure is this; when you buy a machine from China, factory direct, that machine is yours; good, bad, or ugly. Whatever problems the machine has are now YOUR problems, even if parts are missing, don't fit, don't work. And that's before you get into finishing off the machine and setting it up. And don't think that because you read about a positive experience on a message board, that your going to have the same positive experience as well; some factories have very little stability, and can have equipment arrive in all kinds of various conditions, from day to day, month to month, you get the idea. I mean, they forgot sewing stand parts and sent a sewing machine additional instead? What the heck is that all about, in this case? I DO want to back up a moment, and say that we sent some new Seiko equipment from the US into New Zealand last year, and I TOTALLY understand what amuckart is up against. In his case, with shipping, the exchange rate, and his sounding willing to do some work, he got a good machine at a good price.

Good deal.

Ed, I know for sure no doubt Bob knows, but Pfaff H3 takes 134-35, and H4 models a system 190R. If it has a system 135X17 and it works, leave it, but it's not correct by the book so to speak. All are commonly available needles for industrials. Ed, I know for sure no doubt Bob knows, but Pfaff H3 takes 134-35, and H4 models a system 190R. If it has a system 135X17 and it works, leave it, but it's not correct by the book so to speak. All are commonly available needles for industrials.

James, this used to be commonly done on these machines, but it's no longer cost effective. You need a new take up lever, hook complete, hook saddle, bobbin case opener to do this.

Mitar, I have both Owners and Parts chart avaible for download here; Juki DNU-1541 owners and parts book manual Hope this helps, Cheers