Ferdinand

[clynm]

Recently got a Ferdinand walking foot. Anyone know anything about them or where to find manuals, parts or other stuff? Any info is greatly appreciated, since I can't find anything on the internet.

[Northmount]

@clynm Moved your post to leather sewing machines.

Do a google search using the following without quotes.  "site:leatherworker.net ferdinand" and you will find a number of posts about Ferdinand machines.

[Wizcrafts]

You need to add the model number, and if possible, a photo of your machine. Ferdinand made several types of leather sewing machines. Each was different.

That company has been out of business for years. Their remaining parts were sold to various sewing machine dealers, at least one of which is now out of business.

Ferdinand sewing machines have been discussed in this forum for many years. They were all customized versions of other available heavy stitchers that Ferdinand modified with custom made parts. Some folks have identified the original machines they were built upon. Some of those machines have online manuals that were available at the time that information was posted on the forum.

Here is the google search results for Ferdinand sewing machines discussed on Leatherworker.net.

[shoepatcher]

Contact Hoffman Brothers in Chicago.  They bought Ferdco which was a later company but may have info.  Send us pics of the machine and we can tell you what it is a clone of.

glenn

[Cumberland Highpower]

The Ferdco machines I've seen were modified Adlers and Jukis.  Seems like I saw one on a Clone of a Juki once as well.

Why not just look for a 205 or a 441 manual online? That would cover the majority of what you're probably looking to know.

They were pretty expensive machines at the time, and all could stitch some real thick leather.   They don't seem to bring as much at auction, comparing to other similar class machines.   I don't know why.

[Wizcrafts]

50 minutes ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

They don't seem to bring as much at auction, comparing to other similar class machines.   I don't know why.

They don't bring as much because these were highly modified machines that are long out of production and spare parts and manuals are very hard, if not impossible to find. They will have some parts in common with their ancestors upon whose carcasses they were built.