Who uses a Pearson #6

[Singermania]

6 hours ago, catskin said:

I wonder if some of those that don't have the various attachments  ( I have nearly all of them )for the 441 type of machine don't realize that they are available.  Like the saddle maker  that was here last winter , he has a genuine Juki 441 ( had it for many years ) but only had the big feet was very surprised that these other feet  feed dogs and plates were available.  And intended to order them.  So like the Pearson if you do not have the right attachments it limits what you can do. I do not know what attachments are for the Pearson or where it might be possible to get any of them.  I got only the machine. I made an edge guide and bobbin winder.  As my Pearson is ,doing any fine work would be difficult.  My Cowboy does that easy. For example sewing 2 stitch lines on 1/2 " wide leather with 207 thread.  I would be very happy if those of you that have Pearson  attachments would post pictures.  I might be able to make my own version of some.  As others likely could too.

Hi, there do exist a few attachment for the no 6, most common are left and right roller guides, needle steadies and bobbin winders.   Here is a photo of the rein rounder attachment that we were remanufacturing a while back, this is the original....

[catskin]

I do agree that the Pearson was and likely still is one of the best machines made.  BUT I stand by my comment comparing the 2 machines.  BASED on what I have.  I do not have any kind of groover.  I do not have a rein rounder. I do not have pricker feet whatever they are. Nor do I have any other attachments if they exist.  And like big S. is with Pearsons, I have never seen any of those things. I do wonder if it would be any easier to sew rounds with it then with a 441 WITHOUT the right attachment.  So WITHOUT the attachments it is I believe limited to much less then with them.  And likely very few would be able to find them.  I have to wonder if the saddle makers that are replacing them with 441 and copies are doing it because they need the close tolerances that a worn out Pearson can no longer give them.  And a new clone can. After all there is rarely more then 15 feet of sewing on a saddle. ( not counting breast collar etc. ) And can't find , or don't feel the cost of a total rebuild is justified. No rounding on saddles nor likely grooving.

As for the Landis #1 I only repeated what the owners told me. The saddle maker had several feet for his and maybe other things but still had the opinion that Pearson might be better somehow.  He did all his sewing on saddles with his genuine Juki  441.  There again maybe 100 plus years of wear made it less then it was 99 years ago.

[Singermania]

Yes mate agree with you,  we at Cowboy Leather Machines in Australia sell the Cowboy CB4500 for saddlery work, we supply it with the double toe foot, left and right feet, left and right dogleg feet, roller guide, standard plate, narrow slotted plate, holster and stirrup plates for pretty much the reasons you outline, the machine is great but better with all the bits.  Pearsons commonly came with a double toe foot, left and right feet, pricker feet to drop stitches into in varying sizes, needle steadies in varying sizes, roller guides, rein rounder attachments and attachments to do piping and flat bed table.  I've sold most of the needle steadies and pricker feet now to people wanting to option up their Pearsons, here is a foto of some of my machines.   With regards to Pearsons being old and not sewing consistant stitching, I haven't found this to be the case, the head is fitted with vertical and horizontal fully adjustable sections that can be moved in to take up slack.

[atexascowboy]

On 11/28/2018 at 2:52 PM, plinkercases said:

looking forward to seeing that invention... working on one myself...

Ditto

[atexascowboy]

10 hours ago, Singermania said:

Great to see so much intelligent comment on the older machines, I cant say for sure that the no 6 is better than the Landis no 1, only that the former is needle feed and the latter is walking foot.   Needles currently available for the no 6 are as far as I know 160, 200, 230, 250.  I also have considerable stock of roundpoint in 300.  I've included a photo of some of my Pearsons.

Singer, I will be getting a #6 in the near future. It will be used to sew spur straps. At present I handsew using 7 cord waxed Irish linen which I would like to use in my Pearson. Will this thread work and if so which needle should I use with it ?

Thanks

I have attached a pic of my soon to be new baby.

 

[atexascowboy]

On 11/28/2018 at 1:43 AM, Constabulary said:

I´m pretty sure it could (technically) but the largest needle you can find at most dealers is is 230 metric. Some may have larger needles but you barely find them on the "free market" meaning the WWW.

 

Thank you.

[Matt S]

3 hours ago, atexascowboy said:

Singer, I will be getting a #6 in the near future. It will be used to sew spur straps. At present I handsew using 7 cord waxed Irish linen which I would like to use in my Pearson. Will this thread work and if so which needle should I use with it ?

Thanks

I have attached a pic of my soon to be new baby.

 

The manual declares that the no6 can use up to 18/8 linen so the size isn't the issue, but finding needles will be. IVI (who made needles and castings for BUSM) would call them a  size 7 needle. In modern terms you'll be looking for something like nm300 size, which do exist but not common in that class. I think that Schmetz was the most recent manufacturer of the 331 class needles and the only readily available ones are nm250, which is for 5cord linen. Aaron Martin in Canada lists nm250 and nm280 needles. If you can't find any suitable ones stateside PM me and I'll see what I can provide.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

17 hours ago, Singermania said:

Needles currently available for the no 6 are as far as I know 160, 200, 230, 250.  

What I'd like to know is, why in the world is there not a 180 needle made??  160 is pretty small for a heavy stitcher, and a machine has to be super tight to use them successfully.  I would occasionally use a 180, but a 160, almost never.  I guess I should be grateful there are any leather point needles at available for the Paearson and #1.  

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

18 hours ago, Silverd said:

Way to go Big Sioux! 

 

Silverd

You of all people know how strongly I feel about the subject!

[CowboyBob]

I know of a Amishman  that sells them he stocks 230,250 & 280 he gets $3.50 ea. for them You can PM me for his ph# if you need any.