CLONE, Ferdinand that looks a lot like Consew 206 RB

[Curious Observer]

Hi All Good People of this here Community, 

After much Youtube watching, trying to learn, searching, measuring risk vs reward, questioning, asking and the rest of the many enjoyable aspects of  the hunt, I pulled the trigger and bagged me an industrial leather capable machine.

It's a Ferdinand with no visible model number but it looks a lot like the 206 RB by Consew. As previously mentioned, buying these old machines is risky, immediately to mind comes Wizcraft comment about this particular brand slapping their stickers on these clones, but going inside as well and tweaking little parts here and there. May none of those ever fail on this BRAND NEW, to me, machine.

I selecte a few pics I hope to be able to attach here. The table top and the main pedal are crap, seriously. However, there is a speed reducer in that table, and next to the somewhat deformed treadle pedal, there is a school bus style pedal in lieu of a knee lifter (anyone has one of this that can help me figure out how to connect it?). The head itself seems ok. I tested is a bit with some scraps (my first time at the helm of an industrial sewing machine) and though I'm sure I didn't test all possible ways for a more thorough evaluation, on the things I did, the machine did ok. I don't think this machine was so much abused as she was more likely neglected. The oil reservoir beneath the bed was bone dry, as were the wicks and pads. I tried to give it a fair scrubbing and thorough oiling and though she was not dead, I feel like I've been reviving her. You can probably read between the lines how excited I am about this purchase, I admit I'm giddy about it. I'm almost certain I'll be back for advice and assistance. For now I leave it at ideas as to how to attach that funky pedal to the presser foot mechanism. BTW, I have ordered shorter stretchers to make table more compact as space is at a premium where it will live. One last question, with the speed reducer and belts configuration, is it possible to tilt head back while in table?

 

[bruce johnson]

Nice machine. If I found it and the price was good, I would have been all over it. I have zero worries about the tweaks and replacements.  Any tweaks that Ferd did on my machines was an improvement over the originals. I am personally not a fan of knee lifts.  I've had some through here and never liked them as well as a separate pedal but i learned on separate pedals.  That pedal attaches with a simple chain and S hooks. The chain goes through the table and hooks on the lifter arm. the other end attached to the pedal.  

Speed reducer - grease it wheel, run it some, grease again. 

To tip it back you probably need to pop the belt off the head. 

Advice from old guy that taught me a lot - oil the crap out of it everywhere that moves. run it by hand and keep wiping as the excess rusty oil comes out. Keep doing that until the oil is coming off clear. Suspended rust is mildly abrasive and you can add wear if you are doing to faster under power, turn it by hand. Really rusty - use 50:50 transmission fluid and acetone until that comes off clear, then go to oil a couple times.

The oil Ferdco told me to use for maintenance was hydraulic jack oil with a little bit of ProLong oil additive in it. Everybody has a favorite but I have used that for about 20 years 

[Ferg]

Thought you might be interested to see my Consew RB-5

Biggest problem I have with the knee lift is my "Steel" knee with very little flesh stretched over it. Only one I have had the opportunity to see that was actually made in Japan. Think I paid $1300 for it maybe 25 years ago. Of all the machines I have owned and have this is my"Baby". Wouldn't trade it for anything else in my shop. Never fails me with a touch of adjustment now and then or when I change thread size. I oil it every time I sit down to it and check thread track.

Only Industrial sewing machine I have owned that didn't come from Bob Kovar.

[Curious Observer]

3 hours ago, bruce johnson said:

Nice machine. If I found it and the price was good, I would have been all over it. I have zero worries about the tweaks and replacements.  Any tweaks that Ferd did on my machines was an improvement over the originals. I am personally not a fan of knee lifts.  I've had some through here and never liked them as well as a separate pedal but i learned on separate pedals.  That pedal attaches with a simple chain and S hooks. The chain goes through the table and hooks on the lifter arm. the other end attached to the pedal.  

Speed reducer - grease it wheel, run it some, grease again. 

To tip it back you probably need to pop the belt off the head. 

Advice from old guy that taught me a lot - oil the crap out of it everywhere that moves. run it by hand and keep wiping as the excess rusty oil comes out. Keep doing that until the oil is coming off clear. Suspended rust is mildly abrasive and you can add wear if you are doing to faster under power, turn it by hand. Really rusty - use 50:50 transmission fluid and acetone until that comes off clear, then go to oil a couple times.

The oil Ferdco told me to use for maintenance was hydraulic jack oil with a little bit of ProLong oil additive in it. Everybody has a favorite but I have used that for about 20 years 

Thank you Bob. It’s very encouraging to see your endorsement, funny, I’ve been hand turning her a lot and have felt it become less sticky as time goes on. I’ll keep at it and get on that pulley next.

[Curious Observer]

2 hours ago, Ferg said:

Thought you might be interested to see my Consew RB-5

Biggest problem I have with the knee lift is my "Steel" knee with very little flesh stretched over it. Only one I have had the opportunity to see that was actually made in Japan. Think I paid $1300 for it maybe 25 years ago. Of all the machines I have owned and have this is my"Baby". Wouldn't trade it for anything else in my shop. Never fails me with a touch of adjustment now and then or when I change thread size. I oil it every time I sit down to it and check thread track.

Only Industrial sewing machine I have owned that didn't come from Bob Kovar.

Thanks for sharing Ferg, she’s a beauty. I’ll count yours as a second vote for serious oiling. That is something I suspect my machine was missing most of the time. I hope this one proves as reliable as yours. She’s still in rehab, so I’ll have to wait until I get her to sew. 

[friquant]

I checked your history, and I see you're the one who went crazy on pfaff domestics for a while. 😀

Can you send us some pictures from the back of the machine? I want to see where this roller thingy connects in. I suspect it's meant for a knee lift, even though your table clearly has a foot lift. (Or a foot reverse 🤪 )

[Curious Observer]

ing like:

 

Good eye 😄 — yeah, I did go down the Pfaff rabbit hole for a bit. I still have 3 domestic Pfaffs of which the 130 (oldest) that you helped me upload a video, is the only currently working one. 

Here are a couple shots from the back of the Ferdinand.

This machine came with a foot lift setup, so I’m trying to understand how that roller ties into things.

 

[Curious Observer]

friquant, tried to upload two more pictures, they didn’t fly. Will try again on this one and see if it works now.

no luck, sorry 

[Curious Observer]

My apologies to Bruce, whom I mistakenly called Bob on my response to the very valuable and informative contribution to my post and questions.

Very sorry Bruce

[CowboyBob]

You need the foot lifter parts that attach to the table.