[Qwerty27807]

I have an opportunity to purchase a compound-feed sewing machine with a clutch motor and table from a dealer who is liquidating a factory that went belly-up. (The unit I am looking at does not have the electronic controls.)



I have been looking at the Tacsew 111-115 and Consew 206rb as possible choices in my budget of $1100-1300 range.

The Adler is less than half that, but I am not very familiar with the brand. (Most of the info I find on the internet is in German or various Scandinavian languages, which I don't understand, beyond looking at the pictures.)

Are these good machines? Will I be able to get parts/service for it, or would something more mainstream (like an old industrial Singer, or new unit above) be a better choice living in the Eastern United States?

Thanks. (Long time lurker - finally took the plunge...)

[DanTwoLakes]

Durkopp Adler is a German company like Pfaff. Their machines are the Cadillac of the sewing machine world. I'm sure the parts are a lot more expensive, but I'm also sure you will never have to replace any parts unless you use it 24 hours a day for the next 10 years. I would jump all over it if it is an industrial machine intended for upholstery work and not garment work. This machine looks like more of a garment machine to me. What is the model number of this machine?

[red devil]

At least here in the Netherlands you can buy any part for it.

Originally Posted by Qwerty27807

I have an opportunity to purchase a compound-feed sewing machine with a clutch motor and table from a dealer who is liquidating a factory that went belly-up. (The unit I am looking at does not have the electronic controls.)



I have been looking at the Tacsew 111-115 and Consew 206rb as possible choices in my budget of $1100-1300 range.

The Adler is less than half that, but I am not very familiar with the brand. (Most of the info I find on the internet is in German or various Scandinavian languages, which I don't understand, beyond looking at the pictures.)

Are these good machines? Will I be able to get parts/service for it, or would something more mainstream (like an old industrial Singer, or new unit above) be a better choice living in the Eastern United States?

Thanks. (Long time lurker - finally took the plunge...)

[Qwerty27807]

Originally Posted by DanTwoLakes

This machine looks like more of a garment machine to me. What is the model number of this machine?

It is a 467-373 and came from a furniture manufacturing company in North Carolina. $500.

[DanTwoLakes]

Run, don't walk, back there and buy it. Most industrial sewing machines have 1/2" shafts, the Adler has 3/4" shafts. They are an absolute brute of a machine. The machine is so precise it will backstitch directly into the forward stitch needle holes. No other machines are even close to that.

Here's a link to the service manual: CLICK HERE

If you need any more info, do a Google search for Durkopp Adler America.

[Qwerty27807]

I returned and bought the Adler after playing with it at the shop for about an hour. It does, in fact, sew back over the exact same holes. Is that rare? (I have a Singer 500 home machine that can do that too.)

Got a welting foot and some 1lb spools of V69 thread included, along with the table and clutch motor too for $500.

My wife is giving me the "oh really" look, but I'm more excited than I thought I'd be about a sewing machine. (I've looked at $900 Sailrite LZ1 machines for several years, and this seems like it is SOOOOO much more capable.) Was supposedly used in the "rework room" at a furniture factory, so the guy claims it has less hard run time on it than a "line" machine but who knows?

I'd like a zipper foot, but it seems it uses two posts unlike normal industrial units, and the few locations I can find online want around $50 for them! (Hope this isn't the start of a trend with this unit.)

I'll post some sewing machine porn when I get it inside and set-up. The head alone is about 125 lbs. and I'm not up to wrangling that, and the similar- weight table, twice in one day.

You know your youth is really over when towing capacity and stitches per minute ratings thrill you more than 0-60 times or decibel ratings. <SIGH>

[DanTwoLakes]

You don't need a zipper foot to sew zippers, it can be done with a presser foot or a welt foot. I do this for a living every day, and have never owned a zipper foot. If you want to see how it's done, I will post pictures. The reason there are two "posts" (presser bar and vibrating presser bar) as you call them for the two parts of the foot is that you have a machine with alternating presser feet, commonly referred to as a walking foot.

[Qwerty27807]

I was looking at a zipper foot to get close to the edge. The width of the foot seems like it would make it difficult to sew small seams. (I was hoping to make some backpacks and the like out of Cordura.)



The mounting of the feet to the machine seems to be oddball because the outside foot attaches to a round post, not a flat bar. I've found a couple on the internet, but they seem to cost triple what the "normal" industrial feet cost.

If you could post picture of cording foot zipper sewing, it would help.

Thanks.

[nine4gmc]

great find, as Dan said you have a Cadillac of machines. You can expect the feet and other parts to be much higher than a singer but you will more than likely never have to buy any of it again.

[DanTwoLakes]

Originally Posted by Qwerty27807

I was looking at a zipper foot to get close to the edge. The width of the foot seems like it would make it difficult to sew small seams. (I was hoping to make some backpacks and the like out of Cordura.)



The mounting of the feet to the machine seems to be oddball because the outside foot attaches to a round post, not a flat bar. I've found a couple on the internet, but they seem to cost triple what the "normal" industrial feet cost.

If you could post picture of cording foot zipper sewing, it would help.

Thanks.

The presser bar and the vibrating presser bar that hold the two pieces of the foot as well as the needle bar that holds the needle are all round shafts. They are called bars, but are not flat.
The zipper method with a welt foot is shown in post #14 of this thread: CLICK HERE

[Coodeville]

The best! Simple as that. I've never seen an Adler at all in my travels