Ferg

I think you need to do some shopping for the ConsewRB-5 They are obtainable new at less than you are being quoted. That said: My first machine was a Consew RB-5. I find that when I wish to do something well and in a hurry on a flat bed this is the machine I go to. I have a Seiko cylinder arm and a singer patcher. The Seiko and Consew both have limits on thickness that are similar. Probably if I had it to do over, I would have bought a longer arm cylinder machine and made a removable table for it. I hate changing pieces on a machine to do work so I am very satisfied with my set-up. Personally i believe you will need a machine that will sew to 1/2" or a little more in time. I can stretch the Seiko to do close to 1/2" but it makes it work too hard. Just some thoughts. ferg

Probably would have better luck selling the pieces if you responded to e-mail ? I am still interested but we need to communicate. ferg

Raw edges are showing up often. I personally do not care for them but that is personal opinion. Kangaroo is such a great leather. It is beautiful and the wearability is fabulous. I did make some iPhone sleeves without burnishing the edges of "Roo". Since the material is thin it isn't as noticeable. When I want a nice smooth edge I roll the edges after skiving. ferg

Well, of course I didn't mean to offend anyone but there is always that chance. You see, I didn't care if it was true or not, my wife said it wasn't. I am well aware of all those folks in Oklahoma and many other places also. Fabricated or not it is a good story. I loved it and I think there might be a few that feel the same way. Thanks Bob, ferg

I read a lot of junk these days because I feel a person in this so called modern day needs to be "up" on what is happening in the world. Quite honestly, most of it makes me sick. The enclosed story is one of those to make a tear come to your eyes and to help you remember there are beautiful things happening also. Subject: Robby’s Lesson At the prodding of my friends I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Honor and I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa. I have always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons - something I have done for over 30 years. During those years I found that children have many levels of musical ability, and even though I have never had the pleasure of having a prodigy, I have taught some very talented students. However, I have also had my share of what I call 'musically challenged’ pupils - one such pupil being Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano, so I took him as a student. At the end of each weekly lesson he would always say 'My mom's going to hear me play someday'. But to me, it seemed hopeless, he just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled, but never dropped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming for his lessons. I thought about calling him, but assumed that because of his lack of ability he had decided to pursue something else. I was also glad that he had stopped coming - he was a bad advertisement for my teaching! Several weeks later I mailed a flyer recital to the students' homes. To my surprise, Robby (who had received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and that because he had dropped out, he really did not qualify. He told me that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to his piano lessons, but that he had been practicing. 'Please Miss Honor, I've just got to play' he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital - perhaps it was his insistence or maybe something inside of me saying that it would be all right. The night of the recital came and the high school gymnasium was packed with parents, relatives and friends. I put Robby last in the program, just before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he might do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my 'curtain closer'. Well, the recital went off without a hitch, the students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on the stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked as though he had run an egg beater through it. 'Why wasn't he dressed up like the other students?' I thought. 'Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?' Robby pulled out the piano bench, and I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen to play Mozart's Concerto No.21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo, from allegro to virtuoso; his suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by anyone his age. After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo, and everyone was on their feet in wild applause! Overcome and in tears, I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. 'I have never heard you play like that Robby, how did you do it?' Through the microphone Robby explained: 'Well, Miss Honor, remember I told you that my mom was sick? Well, she actually had cancer and passed away this morning. And well ..... she was born deaf, so tonight was the first time she had ever heard me play, and I wanted to make it special.' There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed in to foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy. I thought to myself then how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I have never had a prodigy, but that night I became a prodigy ......... of Robby. He was the teacher and I was the pupil, for he had taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself, and may be even taking a chance on someone and you didn't know why. Robby was killed years later in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April, 1995. And now, a footnote to the story. If you are thinking about forwarding this message, you are probably wondering which people on your address list aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message. The person who sent this to you believes that we can all make a difference! So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice. Do we act with compassion or do we pass up that opportunity and leave the world a bit colder in the process? You now have two choices: 1. Delete this; OR 2. Forward it to the people you care about. You know the choice I made. Thank you for reading this.. May God Bless you today, tomorrow and always. If God didn't have a purpose for us, we wouldn't be here! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Any spools of thread I have, most are 1/2 lb to 1 lb I store in plastic drawer cabinets about 30 inches high at the end of two of my machines. Bobbins: I got tired of them being all over the place. You can find plastic boxes at JoAnn Fabrics for the small bobbins. Large Bobbins my Consew uses have plastic boxes. I took a piece of pine the thickness of the bobbin lying flat so that half of the width would fit in the boxes depth. I then drilled holes down the center of the piece of pine to the diameter of the bobbin making the holes so they had at least a half inch between them. I took those pieces with the holes and ripped them in half, right through the center of the holes. Cut the strips with half a hole to the length of the plastic boxes along with strips the same thickness and width of previous. The strips with no "Half Hole" I used for spacers between the rows of bobbins. The boxes will hold twelve bobbins. When you fill the bobbins , take the loose end of thread, through one of the holes in the side of the bobbin and tie a single knot. This way you can see every color you have. I use a white "Paint" pen to mark the size of thread for each bobbin. May sound like a lot of bother but it will save many hours chasing those cotton pickin bobbins. ferg

You do not need to apologize for your English. Many folks were born here and still can't speak or write English as well as you. LOL Welcome to the forum. ferg

If you are intent on copying the manner in which those seats are done plus doing it by hand you will need about a year of spare time and infinite patience. A walking foot is just about the only type machine you can do this I believe. Folks will have suggestions I am sure. ferg

OH How I needed a good laugh this morning!!!! Thank you ferg

A note about Kangaroo Leather. I think I counted 6 or 8 hides of Roo in my stache. I love working with it. Stronger than many other leathers and will "form" around cell phones etc. without wetting. Very tight grain, beautiful, wears like iron, expensive for the good stuff here in the States. I know two people who live in Australia, I might just have to contact them. Baby Bison is the only thin leather I have used that might come close to Kangaroo. ferg

Our experience has been with wood products. We made/manufacture a product in wood that last time I looked 112 other individuals/companies have made also. We have made it for 38 years. We get an occasional e-mail or letter saying we copied their design, they have usually only been in business a few years. The worst at copying products are the Chinese. They copied some of our products so completely that shapes of parts and colors were exactly the same. They sold them for less than we could buy the material. Re: Leather sewing machines. lol ferg

I should have said, I started carpentering when I was fifteen. Built residential and light commercial along with many remodeling jobs. Also built commercial cabinetry, mainly for Family Sports Complexes, and about 40% of the furniture in our home plus all the cabinets. Let's see that makes sixty six years, OH MY! ferg

Have been all my life!

My kind of man, ERIC !!!!! ferg

I understand that some folks lack the mentality (not meant as negativity), to do mechanical manipulation from a printed page. That said, every machine we have in our woodshop as well as the leather room, has either been dismantled in part or whole, or totally scrutinized before using. That also includes reading every page of the manual available with said machine or on-line. Also, after you read it you look at all the parts the manual is referring to. Understand what they do and how. Watch the movement of each part. I marvel at the complexity and yet the simplicity of operation of every machine we own. My wife almost had a heart attack when we received our two head CNC Router more than 20 years ago when she realized I was taking it apart. Have been saving $400-$1000 service calls plus plane tickets and Motel/Hotel bills for company service men/women all these years. Sit back, take a deep breath, study the manual and the machine, and start over. You are making more of this than there is to it. You are obviously an intelligent individual or you would not have bought a industrial sewing machine of this caliber to begin with. If you wish to throw it away I am sure there are many on this forum that will gladly pay the freight to get it to their shop. LOL ferg

From my experience, The best is probably a Fortuna. Occasionally you can find a used one in fair condition, parts are expensive as was the machine when it was new. I looked at and researched a number of skiving machines and came to one conclusion, 95% available new, are clones of the Fortuna made in China. If possible go to a dealer and look at one and try it with some leather you intend to use. They have a high learning curve and can be one of the most frustrating machines you will ever own. In the end, you will be amazed at how great the machine works and what a time saver. ferg

Your machine isn't in all that great condition. Clean it up at least. Is the knife sharp, pitted, on skiver or trimmer? As is: Probably worth about $300 ferg

You can buy stainless steel stock in any size/diameter/shape you desire on-line. ferg

I couldn't help notice your method of skiving with your machine. After skiving across one side, lift the top foot so you can slide the leather to the edge of your last skive before completing. I think many folks having problems with their skiving machines try to begin at the edge of the leather. That usually makes the skiver cut a piece out of the already skived edge. ferg

Depending on the material you are stitching the shorter foot may deter the leather from being moved through. Haven't tried that on my 206 but have done almost everything else. ferg

I have a 29-4 from 1911. I don't think it will do much for you and your shoe repair. Mine is in great condition but will only sew with max of #92 thread through 1/4" leather. I love to hear it run. They REALLY do sound like a sewing machine even with a Servo motor as I have. LOL fferg

billybopp, Thanks for the link. What a great story!!!!! To everyone else who responded, Thank You. Isn't this medium fantastic? ferg

biglew, Thank you. I love my family, my wife especially because she is my best friend. I have had a full life and done many things many folks only dream of. In a couple weeks maybe, I will have hearing aids so I can hear the birds singing and my loving wife speaking to me. ferg

I assume you have a website? ferg

Being that I am now 81 years young I like to think about old things and what old folks do. Thought some of you folks might enjoy this. Subject: Old man and a bucket of shrimp You will be pleased that you read it, and I believe you will pass it on. It is an important piece of American history. It happened every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the blue ocean. Old Ed came strolling along the beach to his favorite pier. Clutched in his bony hand was a bucket of shrimp. Ed walks out to the end of the pier, where it seems he almost has the world to himself. The glow of the sun is a golden bronze now. Everybody's gone, except for a few joggers on the beach. Standing out on the end of the pier, Ed is alone with his thoughts...and his bucket of shrimp. Before long, however, he is no longer alone. Up in the sky a thousand white dots come screeching and squawking, winging their way toward that lanky frame standing there on the end of the pier. Before long, dozens of seagulls have enveloped him, their wings fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed stands there tossing shrimp to the hungry birds. As he does, if you listen closely, you can hear him say with a smile, 'Thank you. Thank you.' In a few short minutes the bucket is empty. But Ed doesn't leave. He stands there lost in thought, as though transported to another time and place. When he finally turns around and begins to walk back toward the beach, a few of the birds hop along the pier with him until he gets to the stairs, and then they, too, fly away. And old Ed quietly makes his way down to the end of the beach and on home. If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the water, Ed might seem like 'a funny old duck,' as my dad used to say. Or, to onlookers, he's just another old codger, lost in his own weird world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of shrimp. To the onlooker, rituals can look either very strange or very empty. They can seem altogether unimportant ....maybe even a lot of nonsense. Old folks often do things, at least in the eyes of Boomers and Busters. Most of them would probably write Old Ed off, down there in Florida ...That's too bad. They'd do well to know him better. His full name: Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero in World War I, and then he was in WWII. On one of his flying missions across the Pacific, he and his seven-member crew went down. Miraculously, all of the men survived, crawled out of their plane, and climbed into a life raft. Captain Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most of all, they fought hunger and thirst. By the eighth day their rations ran out. No food. No water. They were hundreds of miles from land and no one knew where they were or even if they were alive. Every day across America millions wondered and prayed that Eddie Rickenbacker might somehow be found alive. The men adrift needed a miracle. That afternoon they had a simple devotional service and prayed for a miracle. They tried to nap. Eddie leaned back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged on. All he could hear was the slap of the waves against the raft...suddenly Eddie felt something land on the top of his cap. It was a seagull! Old Ed would later describe how he sat perfectly still, planning his next move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk from the gull, he managed to grab it and wring its neck. He tore the feathers off, and he and his starving crew made a meal of it - a very slight meal for eight men. Then they used the intestines for bait. With it, they caught fish, which gave them food and more bait....and the cycle continued. With that simple survival technique, they were able to endure the rigors of the sea until they were found and rescued after 24 days at sea. Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, but he never forgot the sacrifice of that first life-saving seagull... And he never stopped saying, 'Thank you.' That's why almost every Friday night he would walk to the end of the pier with a bucket full of shrimp and a heart full of gratitude. Reference: (Max Lucado, "In The Eye of the Storm", pp...221, 225-226) PS: Eddie Rickenbacker was the founder of Eastern Airlines. Before WWI he was race car driver. In WWI he was a pilot and became America 's first ace. In WWII he was an instructor and military adviser, and he flew missions with the combat pilots. Eddie Rickenbacker is a true American hero. And now you know another story about the trials and sacrifices that brave men have endured for your freedom. As you can see, I chose to pass it on. It is a great story that many don't know...You've got to be careful with old guys, you just never know what they have done during their lifetime.