Consew 206 RB5's

[plasmaguy]

Hello all,

When did the 206's leave Japanese production and become manufactured in China? Does the silver versus white finish have anything to do with Japanese v. Chinese origin?

Thanks,

Tom

[CowboyBob]

I don't know what the big deal is where it's made?I think that unless your using it 24/7 in production you will never notice a difference.We sold some  new 206's to NASA over a year ago & they ordered 2 more this year.We also have canvas & upholstery shops that run them pretty hard & they hold up great.It has more to do with how they are oiled  than anything else.

Edited July 24, 2016 by CowboyBob

[plasmaguy]

Bob, how's my question of where these machines were built versus are currently being manufactured a "big deal". I'm new to this trade and trying to learn about these machines.

[OLDNSLOW]

Bob maybe thinking that your equating origin to quality!

[Uwe]

1 hour ago, OLDNSLOW said:

Bob maybe thinking that your equating origin to quality!

Most people do correlate origin with quality, especially if China is involved. It's unlikely that Plasmaguy wants to make sure he's buying a machine made in China and avoid the ones made in Japan. Look at the tags and stickers, if it's made in Japan it will likely say so. If it's may in China it may also say so, or more likely not say anything about country of manufacture. 

Edited July 25, 2016 by Uwe

[Uwe]

Perhaps Seiko needs to be mentioned in that conversation. Seiko manufactured the Consew 206RB1/2/3/4/5 machines for Consew. Consew does not actually manufacture anything of their own to my knowledge, they just sell things others make with their label on it. Consew started sourcing the RB-5 from a manufacturer in China at some point. When exactly that was may only be known by people who signed a non-disclosure agreement. 

If you want to make sure you get a Consew 206RB-5 machine made by Seiko in Japan, buy a Seiko STH-8BLD-3 instead (But I'm not even sure that statement is 100% accurate). The Seiko STH-8BLD-3 I have definitely states "Made in Japan" on the sticker.

If you want to make sure you get a Consew 206RB-5 machine made in China, buy one that was made within the last five years or so, to be on the safe side. 

Edited July 25, 2016 by Uwe

[plasmaguy]

Uwe,

Thank you for the very informative history on these machines. The information your provided on Seiko was very interesting too.

I appreciate your time and effort.

Tom

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Consew 206RB-5s starting coming in around 2002.

[graywolf]

15 years ago stuff made in China was junk. 10 years ago stuff made for sale inside China was junk. 5 years ago stuff made in China for sale in 3rd world areas was junk. Add 35 years to those and you could have said Japan instead of China. Prior to WWII you could have said America.

The Chinese have fuel cell powered bicycles, for crying out loud. Have you seen any of those over here? Have you seen recent photos of Shanghai and Hong Kong? Those sure are poor people working for no pay, not!

And they claim these days is that there are more billionaires in Russia than in any other country.

While over here they think $800/mo SS is plenty for those useless old farts.

So many of us think it is still the 1950's when we had the highest standard of living in the world.

Just saying, the times, they are changing. What was true a few years ago is not what is true today.

[shoepatcher]

To answer the question, Seiko made Consew  machines for over 50 years in Japan.  They had an agreement that  they would not sell Seiko machines in the US.  Consew went bankrupt  in the early to late 90's.  A new Consew company was started but Seiko was not going to make their machines.  Seiko was going to market their machines  in the US under the Seiko name. Consew machines were taken to China for production.   The Chinese made Consew machines  were made off the original Seiko designs as well as updated.  Todays Consew machines are a good quality machine.  They may not be quite as good as the original Seiko built ones but they are still good because they are built on proven designs.  As long as they are built in a "A" grade manufacturing plant in China, they are good and dependable machine .  The 206 is a proven design no mater what the subclass.  The 441 is cloned by a number of Companies in China today.  Some are very good, some are boat anchors.

I think the view of new comers to the sewing machine market is that China machines today are inferior.  That is being proven to be less and less true each year.  The quality is only going up. Remember, Japan  made junk in the late 50's and early 60's and look at where they are today.  Consew is a good name in sewing machines.  It may not be Adler, but look at the cost difference.  Just so you now, most all of Adler sewing  machines are no made in the Czech republic and the parts company is in Romania.  Only one machine is made in China and that is a entry level  apparel machine.  All others are made in Europe and stocked  in Germany.

The Cowboy and the Cobra machines are both made in China and they are a very good machines and very good  value for the money.  Bob can tell you better than anyone that the quality has only gone up in the last 10 years.  Pfaff 335, 1245 and 1295 machines are all made in China.  That plant was set up by the Germans with German production machinery, German taught Chinese workers using the German production techniques.  They make a hell of the machine for the money. In essence,  China does make so good machines.  You just have to know what and where to buy.

glenn