kgg

Have you visited a industrial sewing machine dealer? Having local support to help you get familiar with a machine maybe of benefit if you have very little experience, they may have a good used machine that would work for you needs and you would be able to test drive probably different machines before you purchase. I would suggest buying a cylinder bed machine with a flatbed table attachment. You can then have the option of doing items not only items best done on flatbed but also items best done and sometimes only can be done on a cylinder bed machine. You may have too either increase your budget or purchase a good used machine. Buy Once, Cry Once. kgg

How thick is the material? Have you tried using a 110/18 needle? Is the thread a bonded nylon or polyester? kgg

Very nice rebuild. kgg

Since oiling and tapping of the shaft has helped I would also ask LMC if instead of the normal machine oil if something like a good penetrating fluid or Synthetic transmission fluid or even diesel fuel would be another alternative combined with oiling. I don't use regular sewing machine oil in any of my own sewing machines. I find that a mixture of Synthetic transmission fluid and Synthetic oil works much better but I am willing to take the risks associated of going outside normal sewing machine oiling / lubrication recommendations. I often use diesel fuel to free up seize metal components. You did mention that the boxes you received from UPS on the second machine was pretty damaged. Did you save the box as couple of photos of the box may help to determine was the damage caused by mishandling. kgg

According to Schmetz Needle Size Designations (https://www.schmetzneedles.com/pages/needle-size-designations ) A number # 19 is a 120 metric needle this is good for A number # 20 is a 125 metric needle A number # 21 is a 130 metric needle which is good for V92 (Tkt30) A number # 22 is a 140 metric needle kgg

The one for your machine that the manufacturer recommended, which was the 134-35 needles so the Groz-Beckert should be the ones. The manual I am referencing is https://www.manualslib.com/manual/461721/Duerkopp-Adler-269.html?page=4#manual kgg

I don't see an additional video attached. Which parts seem to be causing the problem? I wouldn't make any adjustments just yet until you get the main problem sorted out first with LMC. Please keep us updated. kgg

They are different needle systems. They are the same diameter (2.0 mm) with different lengths made to fit different machines. The 134-35 length is 38.1mm from the end to the center of the eye and the 134 is 33.9. kgg

I took another look at your photo's. The side photo where the one with Goldsworthy's tag is visible shows two small holes in the casing just under the "G and the "S". Which indicates a name tag placement. In this case it would be for the "CONSEW". Also from that you can figure it was a Consew 226 which used the Singer 111W155 casing. A reference video would be " Consew 226 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about this walking foot industrial sewing machine " ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBF0ECECi4c). The Consew 226 or Seiko STW-8B and if I'm not mistake the Juki 563 are based on the Singer 111W155 casing. In your last photo there appears to be lettering and numbering stamped into the presser foot bar which may help determine if they are Singer parts. kgg

To me it looks like a Singer 111W. First I thought it maybe a Juki but the only machines that come to mind with the serial numbers embedded into the machines bed were the Singers. kgg

I am going to assume the drive belts to the motor in installed. I would remove the drive belt from the handwheel to the reducer pulley and see if the squealing disappears. If it does then you know the problem lies with the belts, reducer pulley or servo motor. If the squeaking still remains you know it is machine head related. kgg

It is a shame that there are no industrial lockstitch sewing machines made in North America that I know of. For the hobbyist and small leather businesses the bottom line is "dollars do matter" which leaves most people (particularly the hobbyist) with two options, purchasing a used machine or a clone. I really like the Juki line of machines but it must be noted that not every Juki is made in Japan so ask before buying. I do have a China made Juki and in my option it is not the quality of the one made in Japan. I looked for three years for a used Juki TSC-441 and could not find one that wasn't bet to death probably because most are used in a commercial environment. This left only a couple options: i) suck it up and cough up the 10k to buy a new one or ii) purchase a clone. I finally broke down and bought a 441 clone. kgg

My take on your sewing woes: i) The Alder 269-73 can only handle V92 thread with a max 130 needle. So trying to sew thick or tough materiel / leather with the incorrect size needle for the thread is just going to create problems, thread being shredded, skipped stitches, needles breaking, etc. ii) The needles you showed in the photo are for fabric not leather as denoted by the "R" in the bottom left hand corner of the label. A reference for needle points can be found at: https://www.thethreadexchange.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=needle-information#Leather_Points iii) A good reference chart for thread to needle combinations can be found at https://www.tolindsewmach.com/thread-chart.html kgg

Typical problem when the thread is to large for the needle or their are burrs on the thread guides or needle as well as needle inserted incorrectly. What size of thread are you using? How thick is the items you are trying to sew? kgg

The info that I have seen for the 269 sub class 73 is that it is rated for 130 (#21) needle. Since your machine was converted probably to a 135 x16 system, as the needle that came with the machine is shorter, you will still be limited to roughly a 130 max size needle to provide proper needle to hook clearances. What is it that you want to sew with what size of thread? kgg

As long as it is of the correct needle system for that machine (with a few exceptions) and the size of the needle is within the limits of what was specified for that model of machine. If the needle that came with the machine is shorter then the new ones chances are that someone converted the machine to 135 X 16 needle system. kgg

Yes that is the needle system of those Gross-Beckert needles. If you still have the needle the machine came with. Is that needle longer, same or shorter then the new needles? kgg

Just be honest with yourself and how it will fit into your needs / wants. The machine maybe in excellent working condition but not fit your needs so the better decision would be to walk away. Check the machine for: i) thread grooves wore into the thread guides to help determine the amount of use the machine has had ii) amount of thread lint buildup on tension discs and in the shuttle race to help determine the amount of care or lack of. iii) any side movement of the needle bar and any needle strikes on the needle plate iv) abnormal sounds (banging / clunking / scraping) when machine is sewing at both slow speed and the machines max rated speed. v) the machine reverses into the same holes that were made during normal forward sewing vi) take a tape measure and measure the distance from the needle to the closest part of the body to determine if that throat space is going to be enough for sewing your items kgg

The needle system is only one part of the equation the other part is the size of the needle and the machines manufacturer determined the max size of needle for that machines needle system for that machine. i) Depending on age of your machine and sub class you are also limited to a 130 (#21) needle which is good for V92 ( 30 ) thread. The needle you have shown is a larger 140 (#22) needle. Check your manual to see what is the max size of needle will fit your machine. ii) Your machine was converted at some point to a 135 needle system. On the top line at the right where it says "Nm 140/22" tells what size of needle. The 140 is the metric size and 22 is the US (Singer ) size of the needle. The larger the size number the stronger the needle is, has a larger eye to allow for larger threads. kgg

The cost on this side of the pond would run for an Durkopp-Adler 969 north of $9000 USD while a machine like the Cowboy CB4500 would be around $3000 USD. Also Durkopp-Adler is owned by a Chinese company, ShangGong Group who also own PFAFF. So the justification for not buying a Dürkopp Adler as I would see it: i) There are a lot of dollars to be saved. ii) Availability of parts which are much cheaper. iii) Availability of accessories which are also much cheaper. kgg

The machine looks in decent condition. If it is in good working condition my max would be $1300. So you now have a price range of range, $1300 (me) to $1500 (Wiz). If possible like Wiz said do a demo and take along an item what you figure would be the largest lengthwise that you figure you would be sewing. That way you would be able to judge if the machine has enough throat space for what you want to sew. Also here is a link to the Artisan Toro 3000 brochure: https://artisansew.com/pdf/specs/TORO_3000.pdf kgg

This is a class 441 machine with a small cylinder arm having around 9 inch work surface using the 794 needles. The actual work surface maybe less it depends on whether it is measured from the end of the cylinder arm or the needle to the body of the machine. Having such a short work area may pose a problem with some items. A machine with a 16.5 inch cylinder arm would be more versatile. I think this model was replaced by their 3200 model costing around $2600 new. With other machines like the Cobra and Cowboy there are narrow needle plates, presser feet and feed dogs available to allow those class 441 machines to sew thinner items, closer to the edge, use lighter thread thread then the regular / standard ones will allow. I don't know if they will fit the Artisan machines. It is hard to determine whether this is a good deal without photo's it will depend on things like working condition, visible wear on places like the thread guides and your local area and maintenance. Buying a used machine is just like buying a used car. Two machines of the same age, one used in a commercial setting that was bet to death versus one used by a hobbyist will command different prices. I wouldn't go 65 percent the cost of a new machine, maybe 50 percent if it was in really nice shape. Just my thoughts, kgg

This is a older Consew model as the new version is RB-55. To get the most out of the machine for your sewing needs you would really need to add a servo motor. A servo motor will give you the slow speed control needed with a very short learning curve where as a clutch motor is much, much more difficult. This upgrade will probably run about $200 and is worth every penny. That will drive your price up to about $950 and new Consew RB-5 will be about $1500. I would look for a newer version or just bite the bullet and spent the extra for a new one. Without seeing the machines condition etc if the price of the machine was including the cost of replacing the motor in the $500 range, maybe. For doing wallets the RB machines should be quite capable but purses may pose a challenge depending on style, thickness of leather, thickness of seams, type of leather and size of thread. For doing circular type items you would be better off getting a cylinder arm machine (new or used) with a flat top attachment. That way you would be able to sew the flat items like wallets with the flat top attachment installed and cylinder items with it removed. I would suggest looking at Juki 341/ 1341 or clone. You should take a few minutes and read the article by Wiz Do you have a photo of the machine? kgg

The thread according to the label and their website ( https://www.ctpoint.it/en/products/twisted-yarns/penny/ ) is a polyester 3 ply thread. I have a feeling it is not a bonded polyester just a twisted polyester. Glad you figured out the problem. kgg

Not quite obsolete just yet are the flatbed's Japanese Seiko SLH-2B, the Cowboy / Hightex 733C machines as well a bunch of other Chinese clones. They are still using the Schmetz 1000 needles but those needles may prove to be difficult to get. Those machines maybe able too sew in the 1 1/4 " thickness range for strap material but leather could be something else. kgg