Members badger Posted June 4, 2009 Author Members Report Posted June 4, 2009 Thank you very much for your advice and input. Especially poor Steve Brambley for letting me bend his ear all afternoon I just bought the Singer from Sew-quick, thanks Neil! It doesn't just look like a Seiko, it's a Seiko CH8 with a Singer badge on it. I'm very pleased. Cheers, Badger Quote
Moderator Art Posted June 4, 2009 Moderator Report Posted June 4, 2009 Hi Steve, The Typical TW3-441 is not identical to the Highlead GA2688-1. Both the Highlead and the Seiko are very robust machines, their prices usually reflect this. The Highlead GA2688-1 Highlead_GA2688_1.bmp The Typical is made by Zhiqiang and is a 441 clone. Art The only other machines available in the UK, that I know of, other than the Highlead GA2688-1, are the Typical TW3-441 (which is the machine I use, and is virtually identical to the Highlead) the Adler/Durkopp 205-370 and the SEIKO CH-8B. You may be able to find one of these machines used or recond, but you will certainly have to hunt about quite a bit. The Highlead and the Typical are both relatively cheap to buy new and therefore should be cheaper used, however, the Adler and the Seiko are quite expensive to buy new, and so tend to fetch higher prices used. The latest Adler/Durkopp are now made in China, and I believe David Flint is an agent for them.All three machines are shown in the photos below. Steve Highlead_GA2688_1.bmp Highlead_GA2688_1.bmp Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Members torrbuidhe Posted June 4, 2009 Members Report Posted June 4, 2009 Good going Badger. I wasn't sure if they'd still have the Singer, it must have been 12 - 18 months since I first saw it on that site. Hope it serves you well. Would you be willing to tell us what that much sewing machine costs in the UK A Seiko badged as a Singer, when did that start? The specs are listed here - http://www.industrialsewmachine.com/webdoc1/singer/45b.htm Neil Quote
Members badger Posted June 5, 2009 Author Members Report Posted June 5, 2009 Neil, Big thanks to you for pointing me in the right direction on this. I had a conversation the day before yesterday with the infinitely patient Steve Brambley. I'd told him I needed a contemporary machine which cater to all my sewing needs in one package. Steve knows the kind of work I do very well. I'd mentioned the words 'ideal world' and 'if money were no object' and he'd said 'Seiko CH 8' without hesitation. 'Course, this is dreamy time. I'll never be able to afford a Seiko, the Swiss watch of leather sewing machines. I was resigned to having to settle for a 'Typical' or a similar machine, due to budget. As I'm prone to do, I spent time drooling over pics of a CH 8 and got familiar with it. I saw your reply to the thread and followed the lead to quick-sew, intrigued that you mentioned a Singer which looked like a Seiko. Francis and Sue are lovely people. Although marked as a Singer 45B, it has a 'made in Japan' sticker and comes from the Seiko factory. It's a Seiko CH 8. The machine came from the original owner, Falmouth University, who bought it new. It has the needle position motor sytem already installed and looks to be in very good shape indeed. The University traded it for some lesser machines because their new health and safety policy stated the machine was dangerous and the students could get hurt using it, so it had to go! The machine, complete with the needle position motor, stand, and delivery is 1,800.00 Pounds Sterling. I got a deal! Now, does anyone have, or have access to, an owner/user manual for a Singer 45B8BC and/or a Seiko CH-8B? Cheers, Badger Quote
Members SteveBrambley Posted June 5, 2009 Members Report Posted June 5, 2009 (edited) Hi Steve,The Typical TW3-441 is not identical to the Highlead GA2688-1. Both the Highlead and the Seiko are very robust machines, their prices usually reflect this. The Highlead GA2688-1 Highlead_GA2688_1.bmp The Typical is made by Zhiqiang and is a 441 clone. Art Thanks Art. Cunning people these Chinese! Just thought I should add that, several years ago, when we were in desperate need of a heavy duty, cylinder machine, I wanted to get hold of a new Seiko CH-8V. However, at the time, there were none in the country and delivery of the next batch was 3 months! So, we were offered the 'Typical' as an alternative, the added advantage being it was considerably cheaper. I was not entirely convinced, but we were in great need and we could have one within a few weeks; that's how I ended up using the Typical. I have found it remarkably reliable, so far, even when the check spring broke, after considerable use, it still stitched faultlessly! However, even after saying all that, I still would have preferred the Seiko! Steve Edited June 5, 2009 by SteveBrambley Quote
Members tonyc1 Posted June 5, 2009 Members Report Posted June 5, 2009 Good going Badger. I wasn't sure if they'd still have the Singer, it must have been 12 - 18 months since I first saw it on that site. Hope it serves you well. Would you be willing to tell us what that much sewing machine costs in the UK A Seiko badged as a Singer, when did that start? The specs are listed here - http://www.industrialsewmachine.com/webdoc1/singer/45b.htm Neil Funny games must be played with the manufacturers from time to time. I have a Seiko SK8, which I bought about 15 years ago and it is identical to a Singer 132k6 and although it is badged Seiko, many parts in it are stamped "Simanco". Perhaps Singer and Seiko may have supplied each other with bodies and parts from time to time. Tony. Quote
Members badger Posted June 5, 2009 Author Members Report Posted June 5, 2009 According to Francis, the guy who sold me the machine, Singer wanted to introduce a more contemporary heavy duty machine and simply contracted the Seiko factory to produce the '45B' on their CH-8 production line. As far as I can tell, and I've looked into this a bit, the Singer 45B is a Seiko CH-8. Different paint job, nothing more. Does anyone have an idea where I can find accessories like presser feet and roller guides and things? Cheers, Badger Quote
Members celticleather Posted June 6, 2009 Members Report Posted June 6, 2009 Karl I should think the best place to start in the UK would be http://www.college-sewing.co.uk/acatalog/index.html or Bogod Machine Co (who don't seem to have a website). Terry Quote When everyone is somebody, then no one's anybody
Members CampbellRandall Posted June 6, 2009 Members Report Posted June 6, 2009 According to Francis, the guy who sold me the machine, Singer wanted to introduce a more contemporary heavy duty machine and simply contracted the Seiko factory to produce the '45B' on their CH-8 production line.As far as I can tell, and I've looked into this a bit, the Singer 45B is a Seiko CH-8. Different paint job, nothing more. Does anyone have an idea where I can find accessories like presser feet and roller guides and things? Cheers, Badger I had also heard Singer industrial contracted machines through Seiko before they shut down the industrial line. Since Singer machines are so common, and many Seiko models interchange with Singer parts, most replacement parts are less expensive than other name brands. We make custom attachments for the Seiko CH8B and 7B, including guides, needle plates, and presser feet. Quote
esantoro Posted June 6, 2009 Report Posted June 6, 2009 I was just about to ask about availability of needle plates for the Seiko CH8B. I had also heard Singer industrial contracted machines through Seiko before they shut down the industrial line. Since Singer machines are so common, and many Seiko models interchange with Singer parts, most replacement parts are less expensive than other name brands.We make custom attachments for the Seiko CH8B and 7B, including guides, needle plates, and presser feet. Quote http://www.waldenbags.com http://www.waldenbags.etsy.com
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