Adler 105

[Massive]

Any good for our kind of thing?  Pros cons?  Is there a particular model of the 105 that is best, or not useable?  With Adlers there seem always to be a bunch of other model numbers after the 105 or 205.  This one is 16 inch.  Someone has about 1050 post and every thread they ever contributed to is coming up before my adler search.   

[cavsgt]

  We have a 105-645 with an added backstitch.  They are good all around machines and was one of two we kept when clearing out the shop.  As a single needle machine they do not sew as pretty as awl and needle machines.  They claimed 3/4" capacity but ouirs is only comfortable with about 1/2" leather.  Much more can be done with these as they will sew heavy denium up to 1/2" leather.

   How is it set up as far as table and motor?  Ours is a set down pedistal with variable speed drive which is nice if doing much work.

  Not to blab I will set back and answer questions if you have any.

[Massive]

The specific model I am looking at is the MO, which stands for Moccasins.  I need a saddle type, holster type machine, and don't know if this can be made to work.  Any ideas?

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=49571

[cavsgt]

  The RM would seem to have a differernt table and feed which would have to be modified before doing flat work.  I an sure that all of the needed parts are available for a price.
 
  If I were you a call to Weaver would be made.  Super nice people and very knowledgeable.

[Massive]

That is an excellent idea.  When the sales support for the machine is gone, call the guys who would have the parts!

OK, called.  They were helpful, but not to the point of really telling me what it would do.  They wisely suggested that I simply try my heaviest materials in it.  That would work if it was near, but it is a day from here.  So unless I can find out more about it first, I will probably pass.  About the only thing that will work is someone who can say they have used it already for my use.  And even then people do some not very probably stuff.  Machines that are close, often have a lot of details that aren't quite right, like tension differences, or stitch lengths. If I found it in the dump for free, it might be worth bringing it back, but all in this will be expensive enough that I would be smarter to double up and do a Cobra.

[cavsgt]

  If it requires much work it would have to be really cheap as sewing machine parts are expensive.  The 105 series would do what you want but this one will require changes to the table to use it for what you want.  We have routinely sewn 3 layers of 8/9 oz Veg. tanned leather without problems, this will do most of what you will do in holster/belt work. 

  There used to be a company called Sutton/Landis that had both new and used machines.  I will look around for info and see if they are still there.

  Do you have a approx. price range to stay with as now and then machines pop-up around here.  The problem withleather eqip. is that when you are looking they are very expensive and when you try to sell they are worth what they weigh.  We hauled a mechanical clicker and BIG band splitter to the scrap as there was no intrest in them.

[Massive]

Capitalization isn't a problem as long as I figure the price is reasonable for recovery on sale, or I can raise my production enough, as a hobbiest (    ) to cover the added expense over time.  Leather machines up here seem to have a strong resale, but it is hard to tell.  There is strong hobbyist demand for certain machine.  The business end of things is pretty much gone.  I was ready to buy a Cobra, which up here is around 4 K all in to the door.  The adler is about 30% cobra.  I feel once a machine goes over 50% Cobra, I might as well just buy new.

Thanks for all the strong ideas.