Source For 206Rb5? (Should I Consider A Different Machine?)

[Dougster]

Hiya everybody,

I called Toledo Industrial, but apparently the Consew 206RB5 is hard to come by. He suggested the Cowboy 3200 instead. My future plans include getting a Cowboy 4500 or similar, but I'd like to start out with a flat bed machine since I have a wide variety of leather and non-leather sewing projects to do.

What other source should I use for the 206RB5? I see them listed on ebay by Alberoni and Zamir. Any experience with either of those sellers?

Any other machines I should look at in this same general class?

Thanks!

Doug

[Constabulary]

How about keystone Sewing Machine Co.

http://store.keysew.com/brands/consew

[Colt W Knight]

Lots of them for sale online, but I don't know if they are drop shipped or in stock. The ones on Amazon and several sewing supply sites look a little pricey at 1500-1700$

[cincinnatti]

Check out CL dallas, leather sewing machine. consew 206rb $1250.

[Uwe]

Perhaps check out the Techsew 1660. It appears to be a very nicely done copy of the Juki 1508 with specs on par with the 206RB5, plus some nice "modern" features like a built-in bobbin winder. The whole design is a few decades younger than the RB and Juki engineers made a lot of good decisions over time, I think. Might be worth checking out. Personally, I'm partial to vertical-axis hooks with large bobbins in flatbed machines, but that's just me.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Uwe

[Hockeymender]

Purchased a new machine from Zamir sewing a couple of years ago. Was very happy with the transaction, and the machine had been set up to the specs I had requested. I would not hesitate to purchase from them again.

[Art]

Gregg at Keystone for the RB5, but Highlead also makes a machine that is maybe better, ask Gregg. The Juki LU 1508 is also very good and again Highlead may clone it.

Art

[George3]

I recently bought a 206RB5 from Zamir, 1270.00 delivered.

Helped a lot before the sale and was just ok after the sale, didn't answer email.

But all in all, I'd probably buy from Zamir again.

He has a couple of Consew Premier machines that might be worth looking at, P1206 and P1541.

My only problem with the Consew is the start up speed, to fast, so I ordered a speed reducer from Bob Kovar at Toledo Sewing. I do like the Consew a lot though.

Just my 2 cents worth...

[coryleif]

See also the Seiko STH-8BLD-3. Same as the Consew 206, but made in Japan. Check out the Juki 1541, too. Li'l cheaper than the 1508 (but a horizontal-axis hook, like the 206).

Also from Gregg: http://store.keysew.com/catalog/product/9734e551a7b84990b24431b3edd65d91

I ordered my 335 from Zamir. It was drop-shipped in fine working order. Though, the binding attachment he sold me didn't work with the machine. Also, he told me these were still made in Germany. They are not. Lesson learned. Follow Wiz's advice below.

[c]

Edited January 24, 2016 by coryleif

[Wizcrafts]

Anybody contemplating purchasing a new Consew or Juki, or any other brand of industrial sewing machine for leather, should strongly consider buying it from one of our member/contributing dealers who have a vested interest in this forum. These guys will support you after the sale and assist with timing and operational problems you may experience. I count Gregg at Keystone as one of these contributing members. He, along with "Cowboy" Bob Kovar, "Cobra" Steve Tayrien, "Techsew" Ron and "Able" Darren Brosowski stand behind what they sell. Sure, you may find slightly better prices on eBay, but not the pre-sale advice and after-sale support many first time industrial sewing machines owners often need.

If anybody is curious where the money comes from to keep this forum's server up and running, look no further than the banner ads on the top of every page.

Edited January 24, 2016 by Wizcrafts