Pfaff double needle machine

[WeiFeng]

Hello all,

I’ve been slowly gathering the tools to redo the upholstery in my cars and with the help of this forum you have helped me successfully identify the first Consew 226 that I picked up a few weeks ago. I am back in the market for a double needle machine and found a Pfaff machine but cannot make heads or tales or find any pertinent information on the machine. It is a Pfaff 442-6101-900/51-BSN double needle machine.

I am seeking a double needle machine to be used primarily for sewing French seams. At this point I am not sure how functional the machine is, but as I stated earlier the internet is not providing any information on the machine or any possible needed parts.

Any help will be appreciated,

Best regards  

[Constabulary]

Don´t look up the full number, everything after 442 is the subclass that describes technical feature which may or may not come with the machine (machine could be technically altered).

Here are some files for the 442:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1226488/Pfaff-441-O.html#manual

https://usermanual.wiki/ACE-EASTMAN-PDF/Pfaff442144272004.1282822958

If it was me I would look for a Singer based double needle machine (like Seiko, Consew, Mitsubishi, Juki, Singer of course) because parts and accessories like feet and gauge sets (for different needle spaces) are a lot easier to find and a lot cheaper.

I have a Singer 212G141 needle feed machine and I´m pleased with it

Edited July 6, 2021 by Constabulary

[WeiFeng]

9 hours ago, Constabulary said:

Don´t look up the full number, everything after 442 is the subclass that describes technical feature which may or may not come with the machine (machine could be technically altered).

Ah, ha, I totally did not know that, and was drowning in all of those numbers, good stuff.

 

9 hours ago, Constabulary said:

If it was me I would look for a Singer based double needle machine (like Seiko, Consew, Mitsubishi, Juki, Singer of course) because parts and accessories like feet and gauge sets (for different needle spaces) are a lot easier to find and a lot cheaper.

I do believe that you’ve hit the nail squarely on the head with that sage advise, and guidance. With all things being equal, the inability to source needle spacers kinda renders the machine pretty much useless. 

I think I’ll move on and continue the search,

Thank you 

 

[Constabulary]

You are welcome. I`m using Singer machines only and that for a reason - or several reasons. But each to his own - others love Pfaff for their own good reasons.

[WeiFeng]

I do have on other question, though, because I don’t see any mention of a walking foot in any of the machines being sold. Is it standard operating procedure to have a walking foot on all double needle machines, or do they have to specifically say walking foot?

[Constabulary]

In short - "Walking foot" is rather collective term for machines where a presser foot is moving the material forward. Often "walking foot" is equated with triple feed but it actually is not the whole story.

Most double needle machines you find are needle feed machines (feed dog + needle feed the material). Some are  triple feed (feed dog + needle + presser foot feed the material) machines but you cannot turn a needle feed machine into a triple feed machine.

Quick guide to ID a triple feed machine : it has 3 bars (2 presser foot bars + 1 needle bar) and the needle feed machines have 2 bars (1 foot bar + 1 needle bar)

This video may be useful to ID different feeding mechanisms:

 

 

Edited July 7, 2021 by Constabulary

[WeiFeng]

Awesome, that spells things out very clearly.

What an education.

Best regards 

[DonInReno]

French seams do look nice!

While a walking foot dual needle machine will feed better over seams and whatnot, the old singer needle feed machines are about 30% cheaper and are commonly used in upholstery.   These would be the 112w140 or 212g140, or other variant.   The needle helps pull the material along, helping the feed dog.

Every once in a while I’ll see one for under $200.    
 
The slightly newer bullnose 212 machines have an automatic, or semiautomatic oiling system that was better for production sewing, but there is no other advantage over the 112 series machines.

I’ll probably eventually get rid of mine and upgrade to a walking foot dual needle, but the needle feed was cheap and a good introduction to dual needle machines.

[WeiFeng]

19 minutes ago, DonInReno said:

While a walking foot dual needle machine will feed better over seams and whatnot, the old singer needle feed machines are about 30% cheaper and are commonly used in upholstery.   These would be the 112w140 or 212g140, or other variant.   The needle helps pull the material along, helping the feed dog.

This is an interesting piece of information. I can see how it will help broaden the search to include these other options that you mention. Although I’d like to have a feature rich machine any day of the week, the reality is a double needle machine will be used as a dedicated single purpose tool for producing French seams, and realistically, it will only see occasional use. I obviously have no way of knowing where this endeavor will lead in terms of mandating a triple feed machine, but depending on which machine I am able to secure at the start of this project, I will cross whatever bridges I come to when I get to them. 

37 minutes ago, DonInReno said:

The slightly newer bullnose 212 machines have an automatic, or semiautomatic oiling system that was better for production sewing, but there is no other advantage over the 112 series machines.

As far as I have come to know, those automatic oiling machines aren’t necessarily the right tool for the jobs that I want to do. If I’m not  mistaken, don’t those automatic oilers have oil pans underneath with some sort of pump that lubricates the machine while it is in use? If indeed that is how they work, then that would seem to make any one of them inappropriate for the style of sewing that I envision for myself. Isn’t the function of the self oilers predicated on high speed of the machines in order for the oil to flow through the system? Contrary to that type of speed, I will be looking to slow the machine down to crawling speeds which would seem to mean that the machine would almost always be running dry, because that pumping action would never be able to do it’s job. I’m of the mindset that a self oiler would be most appropriate.      

I appreciate the insight, very helpful 

[WeiFeng]

2 hours ago, DonInReno said:

These would be the 112w140 or 212g140, or other variant.

Would you happen to know the largest thread size that these machines can handle?