New machine selection.... Durkopp Adler - Juki 441 clone

[anvilring]

So I would like to know if this is, from the pix on the website, a Juki 441/Cowboy clone:

Thor GA441

This is a machine I can pick up myself in Dallas TX for $2495 w/all the attachments show in the ad text inc. a swing away roller guide, wax pot etc. It's a solid $500+ cheaper than the Cowboy and I wouldn't be paying shipping (but I will have to pay sales tax). It comes standard w/several of the items the Cowboy only has w/the deluxe package. The dealer, Sunshine Sewing is a Juki/Consew dealer.

The pic I have dutifully uploaded below is a Durkopp Adler bought from Weaver and it "looks" a lot like the Juki clone but apparently it's not. It belongs to an old saddle maker/leather worker nearby and I can buy it for 2k even money. 

  What is it a clone "of" if any? Is it a proprietary design of Durkopp's? I can see it today and stitch of on it and get more pix but do any of you recognize this machine and/or know anything of it's capabilities?  

Lastly, Sunshine also has what looks like, the same machine as the GA441 in a flatbed version for $2995. Why it's more is beyond me.

Thor GA243

 

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2020 by anvilring

[Wizcrafts]

6 hours ago, anvilring said:

The pic I have dutifully uploaded below is a Durkopp Adler bought from Weaver and it "looks" a lot like the Juki clone but apparently it's not. It belongs to an old saddle maker/leather worker nearby and I can buy it for 2k even money. 

  What is it a clone "of" if any? Is it a proprietary design of Durkopp's?

That IS an authentic Adler 205-370 or 374. It is not really a clone of anything --- but, Juki came out with their TSC-441 a little before Adler released the 205. Did German Adler know about the Japanese Juki and make a modified version of it? I don't know. At $2000, it is a steal! The machine listed at Weaver for over $6000 while it was in production.

Be forewarned that if you need any major replacement parts, prepare to mortgage your first born. Otherwise, it uses the same needles and bobbins as the 441 clones. Protect the hook at all costs!

[anvilring]

So I own this machine... I love it! it will sew ANYTHING!! I've cleaned it up, oiled it (it hadn't had oil in years...) and am sewing up a storm.

I have a few questions and... have dutifully loaded the pix here on the site. First off, I have a pic of the bobbin/hook compartment and would like to know what screw/screws you remove to get to the shims that have to be changed out for different sized needles/thread and, where do you buy such as that?

Also, is the bobbin case "self adjusting"? because I don't see any way to adjust it  w/a screw as many machines have. It seems to apply the correct tension via thread size w/o any adjustment leaving the operator to simply (this is what I've done so far) adjust top thread tension to sort of "match" that of the bottom.

Where do you adjust the walking foot tension? There's a screw on top of the machine in one pic... is that it? and if so, which way increases tension? clockwise? or counter clockwise?

There's a pic of the walking foot (the smaller of the two I got w/the machine) and, sewing the cartridge loops pictured, can I cut off the right foot Z(Zthe one to your right when sitting at the machine) so's to make that odd steep angle back to the top easier to do? Where do I get a foot (feet, I may alter some more of'em) for this machine? The foot "looks like" the Juki 441 foot... is it the same? cuz you can get the Chinese ones pretty easy no?

The thread tensioner knob on the top of the machine seems misaligned (too far to the left) to me is it? I also see now that the degree of lift is affected by how far in you run the screw securing this tensioner.

In the pic of the brown leather stitching, I'm pointing w/my scissors to an initial "back stitch" which for some reason, always comes out "truncated". However when you use the reverse/backstitch when ending a run... it goes back in hole for hole. So why the short/finer stitching initially?

I've cleaned, oiled and polished up this machine and it seem to me, good as new. I would like a manual, or schematic of it to use for reference if anyone knows of one's where'bouts. I've never owned anything that sews like this... I love it!

 

regards, mitch

 

 

 

 

[Wizcrafts]

I may be wrong, it has been a long time since I sat down at a 205, but I don't think that the presser feet for a 441 will fit on the Adler presser bar. I think the Adler presser feet have a totally round mount.

Parts, like spacers and other presser feet are likely still be available from or through Weaver Leather, as they are a recognized sales partner of Durkopp Adler and Pfaff. Other industrial sewing machine dealers can probably order parts for you. If you have a heart or blood pressure problem you should probably take your meds before looking at the prices at Weaver. You have a genuine Adler 205, not a clone and not a 441 machine.

[anvilring]

Just stumbled across this video:

https://uwe.store/blogs/videos/durkopp-adler-205-operating-guide

very useful and answered a lot of my questions! So there's a Cowboy clone of this machine Yes? So I could buy some Chinese cowboy presser feet and be okay? I just need the left edge (for sewing along /to the right of, the center presser foot) pressure foot for now.

[Wizcrafts]

2 hours ago, anvilring said:

So there's a Cowboy clone of this machine Yes? So I could buy some Chinese cowboy presser feet and be okay? I just need the left edge

You can call Bob Kovar, owner of Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines, at 866-362-7397. He is  the primary dealer for Cowboy machines in the US and Canada. He will know if there are single toe presser feet for their Adler 205 clone. Or, he can grind off the right toe on a standard presser foot.