Singermania

HI, there are three main brands of machines that are high quality.. Juki, Seiko and Adler in the heavy leather workers range. Main models are the Juki 441, Seiko CB-8b and the Adler 205 series.....however they are very expensive and so most people opt for the Adler and Juki clones made in China, these machines and there are many brands including names made up in the USA and Australia are all quite good, the metals are not as good as the best Japanese but still pretty good. We are now Keestar and Cowboy distributors in Australia and so come across the odd trade in and machine from retired saddlers and so can judge them from a point of view of years of service. We recently bought a Master (same stable as Cowboy and Hightex) that was 5 years old and had been used every day to make belts, so its fair to say its worked hard all its life.... I'm very pleased to report that it is in excellent condition, the only things need replacing were the castors under the pedestal table and the rubber ring on the bobbin winder. In Australia there have been some poor dealers, mostly gone to the wall now, and we are trying very hard to make the Cowboy name down under the shining light it is here in the States. To that end, anyone in Oz that is in need of assistance for their Cowboy 4500 or Cowboy 3200 or the Master equivalent pls give us a call on 0419 393750 and we will do our best to put things right. Best Regards Steve Bonnett, Steve's Leather Machines and Cowboy Leather Machines ... Australia

Like a lot of dealers I have a parts box full of machine screws from sewing machines, however as the owner of Steve's Leather Machines and Cowboy Leather Machines in Australia and having warranties in mind its really best for late model machines to order the correct screw from your supplier, in Australia that would be us on 0419 393750, in the US its going to be Steve or Neels etc. For those people out here that have Cowboy, Master or Hightex machines and are missing bits due to lack of support from previous supplier, please contact us as we are keen to get these machines back up on top where they belong.

to get automatic single stitches you'd need the stitch positioner that usually comes with servo motors attached to the handwheel.... however if you have a servo set to slow and a speed reducer fitted you shouldn't have too much trouble getting single stitches. For anyone in Australia Steve's Leather Machines/Cowboy Leather machines are now Australian distributors of Keestar and Cowboy sewing machines and have stocks of these kind of items. When you say larger pulley?? where was that going to go? to slow the machine you would want a smaller pulley on the motor.... say around 2". Call 0419 393750

HI, they were removed due to some incorrect information. Steve's Leather Machines in Australia are the worlds Pearson no 6 dealers. Muckarts link should be visible above. Regards Steve

if you are doing upholstery you don't usually need to lock in a stitch, start sewing from the edge and you'll find in most cases it will be sewn across by another seam. the 31K is a quick machine, check the motor is 1425 not 2850rpm and reduce bottom pulley to 50mm.

ANNOUNCEMENT..... Hi everyone I'd like to announce that Steve's Leather Machines in Australia is now distributor for Keestar and Cowboy Sewing Machines. We offer the full range of leather sewing machines though we specialise in the 441 style machine, the Cowboy 3200 and the Keestar CW-8B. These machines will cover the leather sewing requirements of most leather workers from heavy saddlery requiring 20mm thickness, then sewing to max of 15mm from the CB3200 and down to the CW-8B which is good for around 6-8mm and excellent for wallets and bags. Come to Australia's home of Cowboy Sewing Machines The photo of the 441 shows the old stand, new models have the pedestal stand. Please give us a call on 0419 393750 for any enquiries.

HI Jimi, yep thanks for that, they are nice line drawings. Regards Steve

HI William, I bought a Singer 97-10 and have been trying to get the needle guide from you that was missing. Can you contact me pls. Regards Steve

HI Tor, Yes this is the engineer's manual, its still good, but not what you would give to someone buying your machine. Hope you are doing well there. I just sold a nice Adler 4-4, I'm sure you know that machine. I had the 441 operator manual, but lost it when my old laptop crashed. Best Regards Steve

Just made a flat bed table for the Keestar 441 range Darren and I are agents and distributers for here in Australia. We took on Keestar as we wanted a reliable machine to sell alongside our Pearson no 6. The 441 and Pearson would hold 90% of the Aussie saddler and harness maker market. We used a flat table top that Doug Richters used to produce with a friend, it originally appeared to be thick mdf with a veneer on top with moulded plastic sides and had an steel frame underneath that secured to the 441 wooden table. Doug's table top was an excellent fit so we used it as a template and made our table of 2 layers of 5 ply, 1 layer of a heavy 3 ply and 1 layer of a normal 3 ply, the result is a pretty strong top, no metal frame is necessary, has two heavy wooden spacers that go at the machine end and when in use 2 long bolts go thru and into the table. Because of the design of the table, it easily slides on, sits in place without tipping so you can insert the bolts and it is cut away underneath to allow easy access to the bobbin. The table is very sturdy when in place, no way would I sit on it, but its more than strong enough for saddlery and heavy canvas work. Because our skills set is more in line with metal work, the table is built for strength rather than fineness of finish, metal screw holding the layers together are flush and varnished over. Maybe later on we'll get to the beauty stage. Also because of the variation in 441 tables the purchaser will need to drill his own holes to avoid hitting metal frame members under the machine table. One table has already gone and hopefully the new owner will be pleased with it. regards Steve

OUCH... nobody including myself coming onto this forum would call themselves 'experts', what we are, are people prepared to give a little time to try to help, nobody gets paid, nobody is correct 100% of the time, these are opinions that we give, nobody want to get shot down. The reader can then take in all the 'offerings' and form their own view. Although I am not a saddler or harness maker, I buy and sell a lot of machines over a considerable range, people will either ask me or tell me what thread or threads should be in a particular machine, that was how I came to my opinion above. Regards Steve

Its normal practise to use one size lighter thread on the bottom, if I recall rightly some machine manuals like the Pearson no 6 will suggest this. So if on top you have 277 you'd go with 207 on the bottom and use a 200 LR needle, not aware of saddlers using the D here in Australia. I was only an upholsterer and motor and boat trimmer so pretty much always used the same thread top and bottom... so can only tell you what the saddlers and harness makers here do.

I'm also running short of Pearson BUSMC no 6 parts and accessories, if any one has feet, shuttles, bobbins, plates, screws, just about anything they don't need I'd be interested. regards Steve

HI, I have the outside casting and a few other bits for a Union Lockstitch, I'd like very much to get it back into going order, I have another machine to help me know where things go..... Would anyone have a Union Lock that's broken or a bag of parts that might help me? regards Steve

tickets in the post...hehe.

Hi Everyone, the Saddlers meeting and our open day is fast approaching on the 15th, our local newspaper have included an article on us in their Friday Rural section and I'm hoping they will come good with a bigger pictorial type article next week. Here are some more photos.

aha... now I have them, thanks very much for that, didn't think to look at the Adler machine manual.

Hi, yes I forgot about the copies, I have a listing of Adler manuals but it lists 168 and 171 but no 169, Pfaff also did this machine as do the Chinese such as Cowboy CB227..... but I haven't located a manual as yet, if you happen to see the 169 manual pls let me know. Best Regards Steve

HI Everyone, I've pulled an old Singer 169A72 out of mothballs and am looking for an operator manual for it. Its a binding machine but will also do a good job sewing leather as its a compound feed with reverse. I've a pretty good manual library but came up empty handed on this one. Would anyone out there have a manual of pdf that could be emailed? thanks Steve

The boys are correct, the sk-6 is a Singer 132K6 copy, a K6 will only sew 8mm and the Sk-6 maybe a bit more, but I wouldn't push 3 layers of 10 oz at it, I'm assuming 3 layers of 10oz is going to be around 13 - 14mm. You're going to need a heavier machine. Regards Steve

I'm sure Holty is ok now, however in general Australia has most machines available.... ie older machines such as Pearson no 6, Union Lockstitch, Singer 97, Singer 7, Champion and newer machines such as Adler 205, Seiko CH-8B, Juki 441 and clones, Textima and Consew. We have only very ocassionally a Landis 1 or 16 or the made in Japan Ferdinand. I have all or most of these machines and with Darren of Able Sewing also supply the Keestar 441 which is proving to be quite a reliable performer, we do our own in house quality control, have spares, extra saddlery type feet, plates and guides. Regards Steve thanks Peter

Hi, I'm also interested in the Landis 12, a price would be good if its still available. regards

Thanks Darren, I need a couple bits, I'll catch up with you soon. regards Steve

Nice to see you looking out for the old machines....

I understand what you mean about being a shame that machines that are within reach are welded tight... I have around 80 old leather machines and it can be quite stressful when children and people come and start turning them over, the weight of the handwheels and the gearing can mean damage to fingers in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some children in particular ignore requests not to touch or turn the machines. Spoked hand wheels also pose a problem with no safety guards, sadly Australia is becoming more like the US with lawyers openly advertising civil cases on a charge if they win basis.