Juki DNU-241, Consew 206rb, request for advice

[pattyharrington]

Thanks for all the replies! My machine is the 241H. I should have specified. No S, just the H. Like I said I have had problems with lighter weight thread (138) but the tech says he has it sewing forward and backward now. It's nice to hear that others have good things to say about this machine because I think my thoughts about trading are mostly related to the hours I have spent troubleshooting with it. I was hoping to hear if the Consew 206rb5 would be more "reliable" or give me less problems but it kinda sounds like they are kind of similar in terms of what they do. Is that what I'm hearing? That the Juki is no more persnickety than the next machine? Thanks!!

[mixmkr]

I'm just a "reader" but I'm under the impression  (not regarding the Singer 111), the JUKI is the "mold" and the Consew and others are the replicants.  The Consew if not mistaken is Chinese made while most of the "better" JUKIs are still made in Japan at a slightly higher quality level.  I might also think the JUKI will hold its' value better too as well.  Lots of Consews sold too.  But if someone told me :JUKI" was "brand snobbery" (!!) I"d listen too.  ;-D

Edited February 4, 2017 by mixmkr

[Uwe]

Establishing sewing machine lineage and pedigree is a messy affair. 

The Juki DNU-241 started life as a Yakumo 280L manufactured by Nakajima and later also sold as a Nakajima 280L. Juki eventually bought Nakajima and incorporated some of the Nakajima machines into the Juki lineup under new names. An adopted original, if you will.

Consew 206RB1/2/3/4/5 machines were manufactured by Seiko until a few years ago. Consew was a brand/entity created by Seiko to sell their machines in the U.S. back when "made in Japan" evoked the same emotions that "made in China" does now.

Consew and Seiko separated/divorced at some point and Consew changed sourcing of 206RB5 from the re-badged Seiko originals to a Chinese clone manufacturer somewhere in the middle of the 206RB5 model run.

[Ferg]

UWE,

My RB5 made it through with a Made in Japan sticker. We all know that doesn't necessarily mean anything but it is a good machine.

Ferg

[mixmkr]

To clarify...am I off base to say that initially the Singer 111w155 was the Grandad and all others followed along with their various adaptations with JUKI being one of the first (and appearing to start the trend in that style machine)?  Such as the LU562 and onwards.  Granted those are older technology and (as a guess) probably aren't in the same league as JUKI's 1508....  but a continuation of the Singer model.  And the various competitors/offshoots from Tacsew to Consew, etc jumped in along the way??  The DNU241 can trace its' roots back to the Singer, as does the 206RB.

[SARK9]

One of the machine historians can jump in here, but the familiar casting form of the 111w series goes back to the 111w100 at least, and probably further, as this upper casting mold was recycled on a zillion other Singer models, as well as the Seiko-Consew & Juki incarnations. The Consew 224/5/6 was pretty much a copy of the 111.xxx Singer models ending up with the Singer 111G156, with few significant improvements really. The Juki LU-563 was probably the most "improved" of the copies I know of, with its larger hook and a couple of other upgrades. As far as the 206-RB stuff, its interesting to note that Singer reversed these copy dynamics when they rolled out the "531-8BL" with their own decals and paint job on it. Imitation is the sincerest form, etc., and I'm sure Seiko was heavily flattered by the marketing rights fee. I personally wish Juki had made a Singer 144 copy as popular as the 563 while they were at it....

-DC

Edited February 4, 2017 by SARK9
addendums

[shoepatcher]

SARK9

Information:   Juki copied the 144 class with the  LG-158.  I do not think they made 10" models, just 20" and 30" arms.

glenn

[SARK9]

4 hours ago, shoepatcher said:

I do not think they made 10" models, just 20" and 30" arms.

One reason they were never as popular as the LU-563's.....the 230 lb machine head!

-DC

[shoepatcher]

Sark9,

I think the LG157 preceded  the Juki LG158.  Trying to find out more  info on that subject.  And yes, these were monster machines.

glenn

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Don't know why folks are referring to the LG-158 in the past tense, this is still a new, current model machine from Juki.

Just to put it out there, LG-158 is not a direct copy of any Singer 144W / 145W type machine, however specs are nearly identical.  

I don't think I've ever seen anything but a 30" LG-158, where Singer had thier models in 10, 20 and 30" types, as well as Consew/Seiko who now have 20 and 30" only.

Edited February 7, 2017 by Gregg From Keystone Sewing