Pfaff 1245 Help

[WoodsideCo]

Hey Everyone, I Was hoping someone could give me some guidance on the difference between the Pfaff 1245-706/47 and the Pfaff 1245-706/48. I am thinking about buying one from a friend but haven't been able to figure out if there any real differences or advantages /disadvantages from one machine to the next. A little back story, this fella bought one of each model of these machines from his brothers upholstery school when it shut down. They are both German made and he believes them to have been produced in 1979 and 1980, not completely sure. I have some pictures I can post if that would help. This would be my first machine purchase and want to make sure I don't buy a lemon or pass up on the better model. Thank you all for any and all guidance!

[shoepatcher]

WoodsideCo,

Pics would be great. The color of the machines will tell us a lot. I have a honey colored 1245-706/47. It uses the 190 needle system. Great machine. I think the

1245-706/48 might be a little bit heavier model. Be sure to include the total model number on the brass plate for each machine.

glenn

[WoodsideCo]

Hey Glenn,

Thank you for your reply, very appreciated. I attached some pics of both machines and the model number plates. Hope this helps!

1)

Having some trouble attaching photos hopefully this works!

[WoodsideCo]

Round 2 pics

[Uwe]

Now I have a crook in my neck and I still haven't seen the front of the cream colored one.

Both seem like very nice machines. Differences in specs between the two sub-sub-models ill be subtle I suspect (other than age - one might be a decade or two older than the other but newer isn't always better). Look up the specs for each machine online to compare their abilities. If you can't find documentation for one of them, get the other one! I have a feeling both machines are perfectly capable of performing really good work in the right hands.

Having access to both machines, you can best judge relative cosmetic and mechanical condition.

There's a nice little service video for the hammertone one:

http://sewing-machine.xyz/how_to_put_in_time_a_pfaff_1245_706_47_sewing_machine_tutorial.php

That guy does amazing upholstery work with his Pfaff machines.

[SARK9]

It could be a simple visual anomaly from all the blood rushing into my left ear, but the cream model *looks* like it may have the larger *M* style bobbin, which would be an advantage over what seems to be a *G* style (or its Pfaff equivalent) in the very nice grey machine. Check out the subclass specs to confirm, but its a definite plus if its true.

Update: All I see listed for the 1245's are M-style.... check the subclass to be sure.

-DC

Edited March 19, 2016 by SARK9

[WoodsideCo]

Ok thanks guys, I'm going to try to get my hands on the user manuals for each subclass and see whats what a bit more. Sorry about the pics! cant figure out how to get them to upload upright, Apologies to your necks!

[shoepatcher]

the Honey colored one which is the 1245-706/47 is like mine. It is the newer machine. It is a lot like mine. Both machines are big bobbin. If it was a smaller "G" bobbin, would be a 145 or 245. The hammer tone machine is a C-class machine, L means for sewing leather, P means 4 motion drop feed, M means safety clutch, N means 6 mm maximum stitch length. I would assume the honey colored one is the same. These machines may use a system #190 needle. Mine does. You can also set them up with #134-45 needles or even 135x17 needles. These are very good German made machines. All my years of experience has shown that anytime Pfaff and Adler made a machine in the same class, the Pfaff is usually smoother running. I know Joe Esposito will agree with me on that., i.e. Pfaff 1245 vs. Adler 267 for instance.

The hammer tone 1245 needs a good cleaning especially around the hook and bobbin case. I can see lint and dirt under the bobbin case gibs. The honey colored one may need it as well. All in all, a very good find If it was me, I would buy the honey colored one only because it is newer. Both seem to be very good machine and in good condition. Hell, buy both of them and sell one! Email if you have anymore questions.

glenn

[Sonydaze]

I have a 245/1245 owners manual on PDF, email me if you can use it.

gord(at)bound2please.com

[Hockeymender]

the Honey colored one which is the 1245-706/47 is like mine. It is the newer machine. It is a lot like mine. Both machines are big bobbin. If it was a smaller "G" bobbin, would be a 145 or 245. The hammer tone machine is a C-class machine, L means for sewing leather, P means 4 motion drop feed, M means safety clutch, N means 6 mm maximum stitch length. I would assume the honey colored one is the same. These machines may use a system #190 needle. Mine does. You can also set them up with #134-45 needles or even 135x17 needles. These are very good German made machines. All my years of experience has shown that anytime Pfaff and Adler made a machine in the same class, the Pfaff is usually smoother running. I know Joe Esposito will agree with me on that., i.e. Pfaff 1245 vs. Adler 267 for instance.

The hammer tone 1245 needs a good cleaning especially around the hook and bobbin case. I can see lint and dirt under the bobbin case gibs. The honey colored one may need it as well. All in all, a very good find If it was me, I would buy the honey colored one only because it is newer. Both seem to be very good machine and in good condition. Hell, buy both of them and sell one! Email if you have anymore questions.

glenn

Glenn is correct. Whenever Pfaff and Adler have produced machines in the same class the Pfaff is always the smoother running machine, at least that has been my experience. The Adlers are great machines, just not as smooth as the Pfaffs IMHO.