machine for handbags... possible singer153

[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".