Replies

1. 
   mainestitcher | Jul 19, 2006 02:20pm | #1

   Well, a colleague has purchased a Janome that fits that description. You would find one at your local sewing machine dealer. I'd never heard of either brand a few years ago, but lately they're all the rage.

   An industrial to do what? Makes a difference, as I suspect no "industrial" will do everything you need. (I have two, both purchased used. One high-speed straight stitch, does better with very heavy fabrics. One bernina 950 for zig-zag work. It will not handle heavy material at all.)

   Heavy straight stitching? Sailrite makes machines specially made to do heavy-duty straight stitching on sails. They are portable, I guess, as they aren't designed or marketed to go into a table. The motor is in the machine, rather than separate. I'd wager they're heavy, though.

   Ebay is the traditional source for good prices, but I wouldn't buy a sewing machine there. The shipping cost alone are apt to be quite high. The psychological cost if you're disappointed in the machine, or worse yet, cheated by a merchant are incalculable.

   I live in a tiny town. Withing an hour's drive I know there are at least three sewing machine dealers, who sell used machines, whom I more or less trust.

1. 
   educo | Jul 19, 2006 09:13pm | #2

   I'm looking for a staight stitch machine. I read about a Brother Nouvelle that sparked my interest, and there is one up for auction on Ebay. I can't find a dealer who has one and with a reasonable price. The prices I've seen run more than a machine with a table!

1. 
   mainestitcher | Jul 20, 2006 01:16am | #3

   I don't know that Brother is that highly regarded. That's a lot of money. Pattern Review is the place to check out what others have thought of their purchases. From what I infer, the Nouvelle is PS 1500s, not yet reviewed by anyone. Maybe it's a new model. You seem to think this is the machine for you. Check out the feedback of the vendor carefully. You might take the Ebay adv. to a local dealer and see if they can match the price. The machine on Ebay may be a second or gray-market item. Personally, I would limit my purchases on Ebay to less than, say, $150. But that's me.Okay...I had the model # incorrect. Just checked the feedback on your seller: 100% positive. And you are buying a used machine. And the reviews on PR are good. I don't know what the reserve is on the auction, but good luck!

   Edited 7/19/2006 6:27 pm ET by mainestitcher

1. 
   educo | Jul 20, 2006 09:56pm | #4

   I have checked allbrands.com and they have a "portable" Juki that I might purchase instead. I'm not sure. I'm a little hesitant about buying from this person, because it's used and she has not mentioned what her reserve is. I've seen other portable walking straight stitch machines on Ebay, but I'm not too keen on buying something that's not a well known brand.