Campbell Lock Stitch Sewing Machine

[Silverd]

I'm looking to buy a Campbell Lock stitch sewing machine.  I understand they are very good leather stitching machines.

 

 

Silverd

[Ken Nelson]

Check  All of Craigslist.  Someone has one on the east coast.  It is pretty reasonable and they are a super stitcher.

[Wizcrafts]

You can buy then rebuilt and is perfect condition directly from the Campbell-Randall Company, in Texas.

[Silverd]

Ive placed two email inquiries and two calls to Campbell Randall in Conroe TX  with no response!  I'll call again this am.

Thank you

Silverd 

[YinTx]

11 minutes ago, Silverd said:

Ive placed two email inquiries and two calls to Campbell Randall in Conroe TX  with no response!  I'll call again this am.

Thank you

Silverd 

Try them in Yoakum, Tx.

https://campbell-randall.com/product/model-campbell-lock-stitch

YinTx

[Wizcrafts]

1 hour ago, YinTx said:

Try them in Yoakum, Tx.

https://campbell-randall.com/product/model-campbell-lock-stitch

YinTx

Not any more. They moved last year to: 405 FM 3083 Rd, Conroe, TX 77301 USA

[YinTx]

2 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

Not any more. They moved last year to: 405 FM 3083 Rd, Conroe, TX 77301 USA

Awesome for them.  I noticed the address was different on their website.  But I kinda liked the old store:  was a very old brick building in Yoakum, had an antique feel to it.  I am imagining the new one to be modern and sterile.  But I also imagine it will be infinitely more workable:  the other was a bit of a maze to walk through and work in.

YinTx

The new one is also further from me now.

 

[Ken Nelson]

The one I mentioned is in Mass.  It looks decent-priced at $1850.  Worcester I believe

[Silverd]

3 hours ago, Ken Nelson said:

The one I mentioned is in Mass.  It looks decent-priced at $1850.  Worcester I believe

Im in contact with him.  He's claiming local pick-up only...  Any idea of the risk factor buying one this old?   It looks like hell but I guess that's what they say about me too!!

 

Silverd

[Ken Nelson]

There is always a risk buying a used sewing machine unless you have someone like Wiz inspecting it.  On the other hand, if you buy a rebuilt Cambell randall , you know it is perfect or they will not let it leave their possession.  They are a company with a very good reputation.  Those machines are awesome, I just have never been able to afford one.  Same is true with a closed needle machine,  buy a new one from one of the reputable dealers on this site and "It is going to sew right when you get it and if something does go south, they will be there to help  you and stand behind their product. 

If you really want a hook &awl machine, you may want to contact Keith Pommer in South Dakota.  He rebuilds and reconditions them and has a good reputation and has a lot of other leather working machines as well.  I believe he is in Worthing, SD.  Don't have a phone #.

I almost forgot,  Jim Blaine  at Panhandle Leather gets in good hook & awl machines on occasion.  Those fellas are my main leather supplier and they are really good to do business with. 

Edited July 21, 2018 by Ken Nelson

[Silverd]

Many thanks.  I'll follow up with these folks and see where it goes.  I agree that you get what you pay for most the time...and sometimes you dont.  

Silverd 

[Silverd]

I  finally heard back from Dan, the Sales manager at Campbell Randall in  Conroe, TX.  They are setting up an improved rebuilding manufacturing process and are looking at 4-6mo delivery of the Campbell lock stich machine until up to speed.  These machines are rebuilt to like new condition using the casting cores from old worn out machines then fit with remanufactured parts...and as such are expensive. Very expensive but as close to a new machine as one can get!   IT sounds like their previous manufacturing method used a one at a time Hot Rod approach...The new plan may be more batch type and likely will produce more consistent parts.  Dan was extremely knowledgeable about the product and the rebuilding process and he took his time explaining and answering all of my questions.   One of the accessories I'm interested in is the Round maker attachment as example.  It has a blade on the throat plate and one on the presser foot that cut sew channels into the strap as it is being stitched.   When I asked Dan if the attachment really works, he told me the new attachments use the original design and the original hand drawings that were generated in the late 1800's.  Nice!  A proven vintage design for traditional Bridle work available in todays age.  Effectively these machines are functional antiques that have not been redesigned or replaced with a modern equivalent.  Only in the Leather industry!

There are some interesting characteristics of the Campbell lock stich I'll need to gain understanding of before I buy however.  Wiscrafts expounds on the technique of backstitching above; Wow!  Very complicated so it seems but possible?  I'm wondering how well it will sew cheek buckle pieces considering how big the presser foot is for example?  Anybody have experience with this? 

 

Silverd

 

[Wizcrafts]

Backstitching with a barbed needle involves rotating the work 180 degrees and carefully lining the needle up on the side of a previous lockstitch. It can be inside the same hole, but must not lay directly on the knot or the existing stitches. Sometimes, rotating the needle a bit makes it easier to lay stitches next to each other, in the same holes. Pick a direction and stay with that alignment.

[Silverd]

On 7/26/2018 at 10:54 PM, Wizcrafts said:

Backstitching with a barbed needle involves rotating the work 180 degrees and carefully lining the needle up on the side of a previous lockstitch. It can be inside the same hole, but must not lay directly on the knot or the existing stitches. Sometimes, rotating the needle a bit makes it easier to lay stitches next to each other, in the same holes. Pick a direction and stay with that alignment.

Or one can finish by hand?

Silverd

On 7/19/2018 at 9:23 PM, Wizcrafts said:

You can buy then rebuilt and is perfect condition directly from the Campbell-Randall Company, in Texas.

Finally got a response back from the Campbell folks.  They have or will rebuild to order a Campbell machine complete with table and 1hp servo drive system for $6250 or head only $5475.  Funny thing.  They apparently use Haas cnc mills and lathes to manufacture many of the replacement parts used in their rebuild process.  I've worked at Haas for over twenty years as a mechanical engineer.

If I can get them to provide me with a shipping quote we may do some buisness. However I'm not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling about their customer service at this point.  I like the idea of buying a tight machine that is well supported but my experience so far in this industry has been minus the well suppored part.  Just saying.  I think that may be one reason why a forum like leatherworker.net gets the traffic it does.   The folks here have been way more informative and supportive than the equipment supplies I've dealt with.  It's been an eye opening experience let's just say!

Silverd

[DonInReno]

oops - my mistake it was a union lockstitch on cl.

Edited August 10, 2018 by DonInReno