Offer up? ...and 441 clones

[connerh04]

5 minutes ago, RemingtonSteel said:

Conner, yes you are mostly correct. If mounting  the head on a different table or a stand, you could use the same motor, and speed reducer (if it came with one.)  The only thing you may need to alter/replace is the connector rods (connects foot pedal to actuating arm on motor), and the chain for the presser foot lifter, if they are not long enough. Below is a photo (provided by JerseyFirefighter on a different thread ) that shows a Ferdco that Keystone Sewing was selling with an additional flat bed attachment.  To me, this would be the best way to mount a 441, if one need both a cylinder arm and flatbed machine.

 

I hope you are correct about Hoffman Brothers, but I have my doubts. HB purchased Ferdco around 2011-2012(?), and the page on the HB website regarding Leather Machines (https://hoffmanbrothers.com/leather-machines/) points to https://www.Ferdco.com, which hasn't been updated since the purchase. I believe that Keystone Sewing Machines, was one of the last companies still selling Ferdco but I noticed they no longer list Ferdcos on their website. Unfortunately Gregg From Keystone Sewing is not longer with us to add to this discussion. My personal experience with HB is that I emailed them right after getting my Pro 2000 looking for extra feet, and they never responded to my email.

 

Yes, a table like that would be the cats meow...I would really like to find one somewhat locally to avoid what I can only assume would be some pretty hefty shipping charges...

I received one e-mail from HB, I haven't inquired about parts yet, just asked for a catalog, but this isn't this first time I am hearing about possible poor service. We will see...How much of a Ferdco 2000 is unique to ferdco? Am I right in thinking that a lot of the parts can be picked up from other 441 machine companies? Juki or clones...

[RemingtonSteel]

33 minutes ago, connerh04 said:

Yes, a table like that would be the cats meow...I would really like to find one somewhat locally to avoid what I can only assume would be some pretty hefty shipping charges...

Yes it would, but new ones are too pricy for me even before shipping.  May take you awhile to find a used one.

I am not an expert by any means in this area, and don't claim to be.  Having said that, many parts can be swapped out with Juki TSC-441 parts as Ferdinand based his machine on the Juki TSC-441. His first machines were actually Jukis that he modified to sew heavier and thicker leather, and they still had the Juki decal as shown in the top photo posted by DonInReno. Later I believe he switched to having his own heads cast, but I am not sure how many parts if any he may have still purchased from Juki, and how many were his own.  Other 441 parts from other vendors such as feet from Cobra, Cowboy, TechSew, and Artisan, although they may fit, may have to be altered or the machine adjusted to use them. As an example, feet from other vendors may fit the Ferdco, but the overall length of the foot may be slightly different.  You would then either have to grind down the foot if too long, or adjust your machine to sew properly with this new foot length.  Having to adjust the machine would be fine if it was a one time thing, but would not be recommended if you had to switch back and forth between the original Ferdco feet and the new vendors feet (the info about the feet I credit to JJN as he clued me into this.) 

[connerh04]

On 4/3/2021 at 5:16 PM, DonInReno said:

Right now there are three pro 2000 Ferdco 441 machines (not juki) on Craigslist in Washington.    From the looks of them they were rode hard and probably not worth more than the asking price, but under those cute flat accessory plates are cylinder arm 441 clones for $1400.

 

I just wanted to give this a bump for anyone looking for one of these machines. He has bumped the asking price down to $1000 for these Ferdcos...