Industrial Sewing Machines

March 25, 2006 6:45 AM

Best of breed industrial sewing machine?

I want to buy a used, heavy duty sewing machine that can sew thick pieces of leather. Anyone know what old brand I should look for that is indestructible and still has parts available? Kind of like how when you look for a metal lathe, you think South Bend, or Bridgeport for a milling machine. World War 2 era stuff that will never die.

posted by machaus to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (4 answers total)

The textile plant I worked at before going to graduate school still used sewing machines that were from the 1920s. They were pedal driven Singers. Parts was a problem though -- they never needed for parts, but that was because they had a dozen inoperative machines lying around in the graveyard to cannibalize. I would call a place like this and just ask to take up 5 minutes of their time and get opinions.
posted by mrmojoflying at 9:27 AM on March 25, 2006

You are looking for a Consew. My mom has one; it could sew one of her hands to the other. As with all incredibly amazing machines (hers is the 206-RB3) they are rather expensive, I think used can be more than 2k, if you find out otherwise please post it here. (I want one, too).

Try here and here for pricing and availability.
posted by fake at 11:16 AM on March 25, 2006

this thread may be helpful.
posted by popechunk at 5:36 PM on March 25, 2006

Juki is the machine of choice of contract sewing houses. It was also the brand of machine used by the woman I worked for that made very high end leather handbags and accessories. Be aware that most models do nothing but stitch forward and backwards and it won't feel anything like a "home" sewing machine you're used to using. It will - though - sew through leather and what ever else you can throw at it.
posted by Wolfie at 5:45 PM on March 25, 2006