machine for handbags... possible singer153

[beltbuckles]

so i am looking into getting a machine that is for sewing leather handbags.  i live in NJ. I  have very little knowledge on this subject. i guess a cylinder arm, walking foot ??  anyway, i did some searching nearby, and i found a singer 153w103 machine.  the owner didn't know much about it.. and it didn't have a needle so i could not test it out...   they wanted $800 but the price was negotiable. i did find an adler 105 that a shoe place was selling. they wanted to upgrade. i wonder if the one they are selling is junk or still usefull? i don't really know enough to determine what to look for when buying used... i could buy new, but i strongly prefer to buy used if possible to save money..

i heard cobra 4, pfaff 335 ect.. are good but finding a used one is really tough

 

[Uwe]

Both the Singer 153W103 and the Adler 105 are very nice machine designs, well suited to sewing leather bags. But the two machines are not in the same weight class, meaning there's very little overlap between them in terms of what materials and thread they handle well. The Singer will be good for softer, thin to medium weight leather and lining materials, and up to size 138 thread. The Adler 105 will handle thick, stiff leathers and thick thread up to size 415, but won't be very good at handling thin materials and liners.  

For $800 that Singer should be in nice condition and in good working order. The Adler 105 is easily worth twice that in good condition. Get both if you can afford it. Parts for the Singer will be much cheaper than parts for the Adler. 

Working on these machines can be tricky and the learning curve can be steep. It's best to start with a machine that works perfectly - plan to spend some money on having the machines adjusted by a good sewing machine technician. Then you can learn how to do things yourself if you're motivated and mechanically inclined - not everybody is.

Edited January 19, 2017 by Uwe

[brmax]

The Cobra is the big dog here your listing and capable of thick projects all day long with reverse. Possibly next great find is the Adler, but there are several sub classes to these so the other numbers some how would be great, 105-? pictures can help here but consider there can be maintenance needed and that's on all these. The others are for thread 138 and below, so consider under a 1/4" thick materials works best as above this the bigger machines like to be 3/16 and can be way above. 

Floyd

[MADMAX22]

I wouldnt say cobra is the big dog here any more than cowboy, techsew, neels. Its just a 441 clone. 

OP figure out what your making then knowledgable guys and gals here can recommend all kinds of good machines for you. Saying bags leaves way to many variables. 

[brmax]

I understand madmax and good point, nothing at all wrong with spreading the wealth amongst the manufactures.

I would mention again, like i said it related directly to the post and their listing! of machines

Floyd

[Colt W Knight]

A consew 227R would be another machine to keep an eye out for. 

[brmax]

If you get a chance to take some photos of the adler and want or have the time to mess with it. This could be a find! but I didnt go further for it and cannot without more information on it.  If i read that right they are wanting to update, uh wha ok.   maybe perfect timing 4u

Anyhow to help some, leather is measured in oz and 8 is like 1/8" thick so consider this a bit and these bags you want to start with and these measures will lock in a good choice. 

good day 

Floyd

Edited January 20, 2017 by brmax

[MADMAX22]

Also try and get the submodel of the adler. Yeah they are nice machines but have a bunch of different variants of the 105 if I remember correctly.

 

OP its not hard finding a used 441 clone, they seem to pop up here on the forums in waves, none for a little bit then 2 or 3 or 4 all at once. I have a bad habit of looking at CL in various areas and have scene a few, some for way to much money, saw a long arm version of the cobra 4 (cobra 5 maybe) that someone had to sell fast because they were moving/transferring out of state for like $1200 in very good condition.  

[beltbuckles]

thank  you all very much for your responses..

-i did find a few more machines.. a singer 29d71   http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/atq/5967018439.html

-and a juki246  http://southjersey.craigslist.org/bfs/5921889507.html

for handbags.. are they worth pursing?

should i just go for  to the singer 153 (it needed a needle to be able to test it out) plus i never threaded one before and the guy had little knowledge of the machine

[Colt W Knight]

I would skip the patcher ( The Singer 29) it would be great for repairing shoes or garments or sewing on patches. For construction of an entire project? Not so much, IMO.

That Juki 246 on the other hand is a nice machine, but it will have a small bobbin. A Juki 341 or Pfaff 345 or Consew 227r would be the equivalent but with bigger bobbins. For $1700, I would hold for a machine that doesn't have a tiny bobbin.

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

 

1 hour ago, Colt W Knight said:

I would skip the patcher ( The Singer 29) it would be great for repairing shoes or garments or sewing on patches. For construction of an entire project? Not so much, IMO.

That Juki 246 on the other hand is a nice machine, but it will have a small bobbin. A Juki 341 or Pfaff 345 or Consew 227r would be the equivalent but with bigger bobbins. For $1700, I would hold for a machine that doesn't have a tiny bobbin.

227 and 227R uses the same size bobbin as the Singer 153W103.  

21 hours ago, beltbuckles said:

so i am looking into getting a machine that is for sewing leather handbags.  i live in NJ. I  have very little knowledge on this subject. i guess a cylinder arm, walking foot ??  anyway, i did some searching nearby, and i found a singer 153w103 machine.  the owner didn't know much about it.. and it didn't have a needle so i could not test it out...   they wanted $800 but the price was negotiable. i did find an adler 105 that a shoe place was selling. they wanted to upgrade. i wonder if the one they are selling is junk or still usefull? i don't really know enough to determine what to look for when buying used... i could buy new, but i strongly prefer to buy used if possible to save money..

i heard cobra 4, pfaff 335 ect.. are good but finding a used one is really tough

 

I have Singer 153W103s and 227 machines available for demo, and certainly in the price range you mention.

[Uwe]

I'd recommend spending a day for little road trip to visit Gregg and his showroom - it may save you weeks of frustration and is very likely your best bet for getting off on the right foot with the right machine (in good working condition.) After you know a little more you can start playing the CraigsList roulette for your second machine. 

[brmax]

Im following up in agreement with Uwe and your opportunity with a great offering from Gregg at the shop. For someone that puts up with us with patience and having pretty tough skin, then being sharp enough to return a respectful counter that continues to build solid business relationships. Seems a pretty cool dude, so I wished the distance i had to that shop was as close, a great benefit for sure. I could say the learning curve i had earlier would have been much clearer and in short order with exactly what i needed.

Floyd

[Darren Brosowski]

When Singer closed factories they contracted companies in Japan to build machines.

The 153 was built by Seiko as the 153B series.

When Singer went belly up Seiko kept building them as the Seiko CW8.

Seiko created "Consolidated Sewing" to sell their machines in the USA under the brand name "Consew".