Sylvia Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Hello Friends I've ran across a GA3-1 walking foot "heavy duty" leather machine with table and motor for a decent price. I've done my best google-foo and for the life of me I can not find a single thing on the machine. I thought I had seen a forum thread on here about this machine but for the life of me I couldn't find it even after several searches. Soooo... Does anyone know anything about this machine or where I might find specs and such? The thing is unusual to me because the pictures show it sittin on the table on the LEFT rather than the typical Right... of course that could be a problem with the type of camera used (mirror image, etc.) Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks! Syl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted July 6, 2012 What brand is it and do you have a picture ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted July 6, 2012 That is a misnomer. The machine is actually a GA5-1. Our dealer, Techsew, sells it with reverse, as the Techsew GA5-1R, already setup to sew leather. Our Dealer Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines sells a comparable machine known as the Cowboy CB2500. These machines are based on the Singer 45K machines, of long, long ago (The Old Lamplighter days) and can sew 7/16 inch of leather with very thick thread. They are bottom feeders only and will mark the bottom layer. A good spooning or pounding with a Cobbler's Hammer will usually hide the tooth and needle pucker marks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Ah Thanks, Wiz. I finally found a chinese trade site that gave a little info. The seller calls it a "walking foot machine." But I trust your expertise Wiz. Here is the picture Dirtclod. http://images.craigslist.org/5Fb5Hb5J23I13M43Lac73fa823ca5f55a197a.jpg http://images.craigslist.org/5N45Lf5T43G53M23Jdc73a3661d7464301f84.jpg Oh... and my other option is a Ferdco 440R. Opinions? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted July 6, 2012 (edited) Ah Thanks, Wiz. I finally found a chinese trade site that gave a little info. The seller calls it a "walking foot machine." But I trust your expertise Wiz. Here is the picture Dirtclod. http://images.craigs...ca5f55a197a.jpg http://images.craigs...d7464301f84.jpg Oh... and my other option is a Ferdco 440R. Opinions? My bad. So, there is a GA3-1 machine after all! I can't see any of the usual walking foot parts in that reversed photo. I guess you will have to go see for yourself. If it does have walking feet, there will be inside and outside feet that alternate up and down, while one moves forward and backward, lifting between stitches. The outside foot may be pulled, or on a spring the fires it forward as the feeder drops. These are pseudo-walking foot machines. Bring a few 8-10 ounce strips of leather to see how much leather can fit under the foot. If they have thread, try sewing the stack of leather. It should be capable of sewing up to 28-30 ounces of leather. I hope for your sake that the photo has been flipped and not the machine itself.With the manual visible in photo #2, it sure looks like a left handed machine to me. Edited July 6, 2012 by Wizcrafts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted July 6, 2012 From the info on that chinese trade site.... it is a lefty machine. The site said it was for shoe making and it has a roller foot. Here's the link. http://www.diytrade.com/china/pd/7246790/Industrial_Sewing_Machine.html I think I'll ignore it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted July 6, 2012 I should warn you that if you buy a machine from China and have it drop shipped to you, it will be a crapshoot as to its sewability out of the box. Most of the dealers I have spoken to have to spend between 4 and 8 hours fixing problems with Chinese machines and adjusting them, tightening loose screws and setting the needlebar and timing, filing bad castings, adding paint where it is missing, assembling the motor and table and balancing the tensions to sew off test samples. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amuckart Report post Posted July 6, 2012 That machine is a roller foot cylinder bed machine for sewing footwear. It is a clone of the Singer 17 class machine, there is also a version with reverse made by Seiko It has a roller foot and drop feed, it isn't a walking foot. The type is good for light leather of garment and shoe weight, but I don't know anything about the specific brands you've been looking at though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted July 6, 2012 The reason i asked about a picture was that 10 or 12 years ago their were a bunch of machines being sold on ebay that facing the wrong way just like in your picture. I don't think i would want one like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Techsew Ron Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Ah Thanks, Wiz. I finally found a chinese trade site that gave a little info. The seller calls it a "walking foot machine." But I trust your expertise Wiz. Here is the picture Dirtclod. http://images.craigs...ca5f55a197a.jpg http://images.craigs...d7464301f84.jpg Oh... and my other option is a Ferdco 440R. Opinions? Sylvia, We used to sell this machine years ago before discontinuing it due to a number of reasons including build quality and lack of parts available. It is mounted facing right. It is NOT a walking foot machine, its simply a roller foot machine that is used for shoes and boots. We've since replaced it with the Techsew GA5-1R. I'll mirror Wiz's comments in warning you not to buy directly from China. You'll encounter many issues related to importing and it won't be worth the headache, plus the costs involved in setting it up properly and finding parts. What kind of items are you looking to sew? Ron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Thanks for chiming in Ron! Let me just say that Importing from China never was an option... ever. I was involved in importing fabric from Italy for an employer a few times and I know the pitfalls and that it is a PITA regularly. As for what I intend to sew. I'd like to sew a Studebaker fender to the wall of my house. LOL Seriously, though I intend to sew 2-3 layers of 10-14oz leather but I also want something versatile enough to sew thin upholstery leather if needed. So I want at least one that can sew 1/2"... but would love one that sews 3/4" The problem is that I have a kool-aid budget. Steve has a Ferdco 440R that he's found for me... and an Artisan 3000 that was quite a bit more than I wanted to pay....but I want to make sure I'm choosing the right machine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Hi Syl, For THAT you will need a Campbell. Art As for what I intend to sew. I'd like to sew a Studebaker fender to the wall of my house. LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Hi Syl, For THAT you will need a Campbell. Art LOL!! I'll keep that in mind. Those old Studebakers were tanks weren't they? I sure miss my Silver Hawk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Techsew Ron Report post Posted July 6, 2012 Thanks for chiming in Ron! Let me just say that Importing from China never was an option... ever. I was involved in importing fabric from Italy for an employer a few times and I know the pitfalls and that it is a PITA regularly. As for what I intend to sew. I'd like to sew a Studebaker fender to the wall of my house. LOL Seriously, though I intend to sew 2-3 layers of 10-14oz leather but I also want something versatile enough to sew thin upholstery leather if needed. So I want at least one that can sew 1/2"... but would love one that sews 3/4" The problem is that I have a kool-aid budget. Steve has a Ferdco 440R that he's found for me... and an Artisan 3000 that was quite a bit more than I wanted to pay....but I want to make sure I'm choosing the right machine. The 440R (Ferdo's version of our Techsew GA5-1R) will sew up to 1/2". If you want something more versatile then you need a 441 clone, these can sew from 6-7oz up to 7/8". Ron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted July 7, 2012 The 440R (Ferdo's version of our Techsew GA5-1R) will sew up to 1/2". If you want something more versatile then you need a 441 clone, these can sew from 6-7oz up to 7/8". Ron Thanks again Ron: I keep seeing "441 clone" but that is about as clear as mud to me. Who originally made the 441? and What companies make clones? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted July 7, 2012 Thanks again Ron: I keep seeing "441 clone" but that is about as clear as mud to me. Who originally made the 441? and What companies make clones? Juki makes the actual 441 machine. It is now model TSC-441, which sells for over $5,000 US. These machines are setup to sew thick cloth, webbing, parachutes, tents, tow ropes and other thick cloth and man-made materials. They require modifications for change them into dedicated leather sewing machines. The first mod is the presser feet and feed dog. Then the motor system, then the lift system. The rest is classified. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted July 7, 2012 Juki makes the actual 441 machine. It is now model TSC-441, which sells for over $5,000 US. These machines are setup to sew thick cloth, webbing, parachutes, tents, tow ropes and other thick cloth and man-made materials. They require modifications for change them into dedicated leather sewing machines. The first mod is the presser feet and feed dog. Then the motor system, then the lift system. The rest is classified. Ok that makes sense, Thank you. Wiz. All this sewing machine jargon is enough to make the most intelligent and pleasant person start to get confused and cranky. LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anne Bonnys Locker Report post Posted July 8, 2012 It is a copy of the Singer 18-2 shoe vamping machine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
