$600 a good deal on Pfaff 1245 with servo?

[machinehead]

Have you contacted C.H. Holderby Co. there in Seattle?

[SheltathaLore]

4 hours ago, machinehead said:

Have you contacted C.H. Holderby Co. there in Seattle?

Yep.  Sadly, the best they (or Sewing Machine Service in Renton) can do is a new Highlead (206 clone, I believe) for $1400-$1500... and once I factor in sales tax, I might as well be paying freight.  I mean, having something known to work with support from a local dealer isn't a bad thing, but part of me just wants to keep looking for a good deal.

 

I suppose if I really want to go the DIY route, I could snag something like this 227 (I would really love a cylinder bed if possible, but those are much harder to come by) and try to get it set up. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Industrial-Sewing-Machine-Model-Consew-227-Walking-foot-cylinder-Leather-/182817166857

[SheltathaLore]

5 hours ago, brmax said:

Thanks for posting the photos, the discussion sheds some light on used machines and their conditions.  With all that aside I thought it was good to mention that, that particular model in bare bones sales I seen on sale! at 1,995.US and most important Im not sure if the present new machine is a clone, so could be a bit different.

In respect I get a grin with; This 3hr travel, to me sounds a breeze. I have not been that lucky rather to another State in travel with all but one and a 4hr minimum one way. Sometimes this is the best option and in taking a break!

Have a Good day

Floyd

If only I didn't hate driving quite so much :-/

[RhodesAveDesigns]

1 hour ago, SheltathaLore said:

I mean, having something known to work with support from a local dealer isn't a bad thing, but part of me just wants to keep looking for a good deal.

I don't know how long you've been looking, but my council is, "Patience", regarding finding a "good deal" (I know, not really what you want to hear). Asking the gods of Craigslist to provide a good deal less than 1/2 hrs drive may be asking a bit much. 

It took me about a month looking somewhat locally, and a few more weeks expanding my Craigslist range, to find anything that was actually a walking foot machine, and they all required a bit of driving. I drive a 4door sedan, w/o easy access to a larger vehicle, and could haul home the entire machine/table setup by dismantling it (w/ my random collection of scavenged/inherited tools). 

Be aware that a "good deal" usually takes some mechanical work on your part, so if you need to be up and working quickly, you may want to change your strategy a bit. Good luck!

[SheltathaLore]

8 minutes ago, RhodesAveDesigns said:

I don't know how long you've been looking, but my council is, "Patience", regarding finding a "good deal" (I know, not really what you want to hear). Asking the gods of Craigslist to provide a good deal less than 1/2 hrs drive may be asking a bit much. 

It took me about a month looking somewhat locally, and a few more weeks expanding my Craigslist range, to find anything that was actually a walking foot machine, and they all required a bit of driving. I drive a 4door sedan, w/o easy access to a larger vehicle, and could haul home the entire machine/table setup by dismantling it (w/ my random collection of scavenged/inherited tools). 

Be aware that a "good deal" usually takes some mechanical work on your part, so if you need to be up and working quickly, you may want to change your strategy a bit. Good luck!

Yep, I know.  But you can generally get an idea of prices and trends by looking at what's currently available, and the snapshot of the local market that I'm seeing at the moment isn't terribly encouraging.

I'm not requiring it to be within half an hour, but a six hour round trip really doesn't work for me for medical reasons.

[RhodesAveDesigns]

Hey-

I was also trying to offer a bit if hope, in that, in my experience, I went from absolutely nothing available somewhat nearby to more than a few, all in the course of weeks/ a couple months. I, too, was frustrated, and thought I might go crazy performing the same search over, and over, and over. Where I am, there isn't anyplace with industrial machines, although local shops specializing in embroidery and quilting machines can order products/supplies they know nothing about (a small vent, in that I prefer to work with knowledgeable companies/ individuals= a big shout-out to Bob at Toledo Industrial).

Being more specialized, walking foot machines are definitely more scarce, and usually more expensive, than standard industrial or zig-zag capable machines (leading many to *want* vintage Singer and others to do things they weren't made to do). I know that there are a good number of individuals doing leatherwork in the NW, probably in no small part because of Maverick, Oregon Leather, and other suppliers somewhat nearby. So hopefully an appropriate machine pops up soon.

A 6 hr round-trip is definitely a bit much. I can barely move today, after spending 13 hrs driving yesterday. 

[SheltathaLore]

2 minutes ago, RhodesAveDesigns said:

Hey-

I was also trying to offer a bit if hope, in that, in my experience, I went from absolutely nothing available somewhat nearby to more than a few, all in the course of weeks/ a couple months. I, too, was frustrated, and thought I might go crazy performing the same search over, and over, and over. Where I am, there isn't anyplace with industrial machines, although local shops specializing in embroidery and quilting machines can order products/supplies they know nothing about (a small vent, in that I prefer to work with knowledgeable companies/ individuals= a big shout-out to Bob at Toledo Industrial).

Being more specialized, walking foot machines are definitely more scarce, and usually more expensive, than standard industrial or zig-zag capable machines (leading many to *want* vintage Singer and others to do things they weren't made to do). I know that there are a good number of individuals doing leatherwork in the NW, probably in no small part because of Maverick, Oregon Leather, and other suppliers somewhat nearby. So hopefully an appropriate machine pops up soon.

A 6 hr round-trip is definitely a bit much. I can barely move today, after spending 13 hrs driving yesterday. 

Ah, my apologies... I think I should have had some tea before I replied; it came across a bit crankier than I intended.  Sorry about that. :-/

Guess I'll just keep refreshing craigslist, and call up one of the recommended leather machine suppliers here if I just completely run out of patience.  I am pretty hyped for making more shoes :D Preferably before I forget everything I learned in class, heh.

[RhodesAveDesigns]

No problem, I understand the frustration.

If you haven't, already, get "creative" with your Craigslist searches. In my experience, even though you would *think* searching "sewing machine" would bring up every "sewing machine" post, it doesn't. So, also search "Industrial Sewing Machine", "Commercial Sewing Machine", "Leather Sewing Machine", etc. And look closely at the pictures in different listings (you can get additional information that way), not everyone listing knows how to properly list a product, and may not know anything about the machine they are selling, so they may not list the model/ model number/ machine attributes (this may or may not be a "bad" sign regarding the machine's condition). Definitely have your own needles/ thread/ leather to test with. 

Like others have said, a dealer machine will be in the "best" possible shape, but other machines/sellers offer buyers other possibilities. Unfortunately, you probably will "pay" with time/ frustration for a bit. I am currently on the lookout for my own cylinder arm "deal"; unfortunately, those I've found so far are either $$$, or in Wisconsin (and only fit the "200 mile" range if you chart it straight across Lake Michigan). I about cried last week when a Pfaff 335 went up for $600, and I'm telling myself it was a dud (it "disappeared" very quickly, hopefully to a good home).

P.S. Craigslist has been good to me lately, and I recently added a sweet, devoted, handsome Australian Shepherd to my household, from persons who were physically and mentally abusing him through a combination of outright abuse and a lack of positive attention/ exercise. He and I fell in love instantly, although we are working on his ability to allow me out of his sight for any length of time. 

Edited October 11, 2017 by RhodesAveDesigns
Additional info

[SheltathaLore]

Oh definitely... my current craigslist search is "juki | pfaff | consew | singer| adler | commercial | industrial | upholstery | leather machine | sewing -embroidery -serger -coverstitch -treadle -featherweight -cabinet", which is the best I could do so far without going over the search term limit.  Sadly, "sewing" is not always in the title of these, so I also have to filter through the industrial mixing machines, etc.  Oh well.  I'll just have to keep refining it.

Congratulations on the addition to your family!  My older dog passed away last week, but I adopted another one, and he is the most precious little cuddlebug you've ever seen, and gets along great with my other dog.  Still thinks that the big wide world is a little bit too scary, but a while in a stable home with lots of love does wonders for rescues, in my experience.  And his big sister Sophie (in my profile pic!) will teach him very quickly that the big world isn't scary - it's AWESOME and filled with smells and people who will pet you.

[RhodesAveDesigns]

You definitely have searching "down", and I give you props for that (I don't think most people try that hard). With that level of diligence, you will definitely find something. 

I'm sorry about your loss, but glad 2 read about your addition. Mine joined my 12 yr old border collie mix, who finds him a *bit* annoying, yet goes and sleeps next to his crate, and instigates crazy chasing games. He follows her and copies much of what she does, like any little brother, so it's all coming together nicely.