New Dürkopp Adler 969 And 967 H Type Machines For X Heavy Work

[Constabulary]

I think for most leather workers this thing is too far away from realty. For sure a nice and well developed machine but I think less than 1% of the registered LW members can afford it or really have the need for such a machine.

But I´m sure some "machinesters" will buy one w/o even having the need. It´s the same with mountain bikes - some 250 lbs "bikers" have $15.000 bikes but they are unable to cycle up the hill.

[Trox]

The need is there but the funds aren't

[Trox]

I see that Andreas with Sieck international Germany sell this machine (new) for about half the price 7224,- US$ of what Weaver wants for it http://www.sieck.de/en/machines/sewing/new-saddlery-sewing-machines/details/5741/. It does not look to be a Eco model either, (I cannot tell the different between them by the subclass number). Anyway, this is a huge price difference. I do not remember the suggested retail price for it, I only knows its very expensive in Norway (like everything else around here).

However, a new 205-370 is around 5000 $, and this is twice the machine. I think they will begin to sell when the price comes down to a "normal" level, perhaps after a year or two. Somebody is taking a huge profit when its possible to sell them for 7000 $, thats for sure.

Tor

Edited July 4, 2015 by Trox

[Troy Burch]

When did the 205-370's get that cheap? Mine was $7,500 nearly 30 years ago.

[Trox]

When did the 205-370's get that cheap? Mine was $7,500 nearly 30 years ago.

My mistake, I guess that was to cheap. But that proves my point, 7000$ for the new 969 H is good price.

[Constabulary]

THATS pretty much a difference! $12.500 is probably the "be the first to own" price and I´m sure some will pay the price just to have it - same as with the Apple products or similar stuff - Ha ha!

Or maybe they have ordered and paid the machines when the € was high but now that the € is very low they have to ask that much - don`t know....

I`m sure these machines will not live as long as my Singer 133K3 from 1932. It will cost a month salary if you have to replace the electronics and several hundred $$ for the internal motor - not speaking of the accessories. But as a hobbyist I for sure have a different point of view.

Old Cast Iron Rocks

BTW - do these space ships take the same accessories as the 441 clones?

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

205 was selling here for just under $5,000USD street price with stand and motor setup. Again, this is history at this point.

205 was selling here for years for just under $5,000USD street price with stand and motor setup. Keep in mind, these were not German, but Czech Republic. Again, this is history at this point.

[Trox]

Every thing was better before, I have a old Adler class 5-27 from the 1930'ties who still is like new. However it's no point in making machines that last a 100 years, what will Gregg and the other dealer' live of then? I guess the sewing machine technology will move a little faster this century than the last. 50 years between every new model will be bad for business.

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Every thing was better before, I have a old Adler class 5-27 from the 1930'ties who still is like new. However it's no point in making machines that last a 100 years, what will Gregg and the other dealer' live of then? I guess the sewing machine technology will move a little faster this century than the last. 50 years between every new model will be bad for business.

Interesting thoughts, and probably not unique to this message board. I have very little control as to how or where the equipment is made. Kind of like not having control of where Mercedes, BMW or Volvo manufacture their vehicles; nobody is asking my opinion.

If it were up to me, trust me, I would rather stand behind and warranty a quality made machine. Other dealers would as well who I have spoken with all feel the same way. Nobody want's to open a machine and have problems out of the box. And believe you me, nine out of ten times it's the dealer who gets left holding the bag when a new machine needs repairs direct from the factory.

It's just a fact that customers I speak with have decisions and choices to make; new Chinese vs used German or Japanese equipment that are in the same relative price range across many makes and models. Not to mention the fact that you can pretty much across the board get two Chinese machines, often good quality, for the price of one of the Japanese makes.

Hope this makes sense, and it's not much of a rant, as I explain this a lot to customers who walk in or that I speak with on the telephone.

[Uwe]

I appreciate old sewing machines designed and made by people who care about quality. Sewing machines are perhaps an exception in the industrial world because they are still usable and desirable after 50+ years. There is little else that endures like that in both usability and desirability. For daily use I want modern cars, airplanes, computers, phones, coffee machines, etc.

Chinese manufacturing is quite capable of producing stupendous quality like no one else can right now, but only if the right people are in charge of design and run the manufacturing and quality control operation (my iPhone comes to mind - try making that in North America right now - it would cost over $5,000 and be ready in about five years.)

If the wrong people run the operation you end up with a warehouse full of cracked-and-painted-over sewing machine castings, truckloads of 40-year-old occasionally frozen meat, dog food that kills dogs, and the like.

I'm willing to spend more on a quality product, but then I'm one of those weird Europeans. Most U.S. americans want "a washing machine" or "a dishwasher" and they generally don't care how it works or how it's made as long as it's cheap and works for a while. You get what you ask for, and what you pay for.

I'm glad Durkopp Adler created the 969 and I hope they sell a bunch of them. I also hope they work with manufacturers who deliver a quality product, regardless of where they are located. I want one just because it's so outrageous and shouldn't even exist. Alas, that USB port on the 969 will be pretty meaningless 50 years from now.