Brothers/BabyLock
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 903
Many machines share feet and bobbins - I don't think that is relevant. What I do believe is that the machines are very similar, and what is important is the dealer. I have Babylock simply because I don't like the local Brother dealership
#24
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
Wow. There's a lot of misinformation mixed in with truth in this thread. Brother doesn't own Babylock. Tacony does. Brother builds most of the Babylocks and yes they are a higher end, more expensive version of Brother machines. You're paying for the Babylock name after all.
There are many sewing machine factories in the world, but only 3 factories that build sergers.
There is a lot of crossover between brands any more. Brother and Janome are the two largest wholly owned companies who build most of what we see in the US(not counting SVP who own Singer/Viking/Pfaff). Many years ago Brother badged the majority of machines, now it's Janome. They both build and badge many machines for other brands.
Never think a particular dealer can't get parts for another brand. They (or their tech) choose what machines they will or won't service/work on, unless they're contracted to only service the brand they sell. Like Sears used to be with their Kenmore brand. Until a few years ago Sears repairmen were only allowed to service Kenmores.
The information I've said here comes from a few good sources, including an honest good man who was a Babylock dealer for many years.
Cari
There are many sewing machine factories in the world, but only 3 factories that build sergers.
There is a lot of crossover between brands any more. Brother and Janome are the two largest wholly owned companies who build most of what we see in the US(not counting SVP who own Singer/Viking/Pfaff). Many years ago Brother badged the majority of machines, now it's Janome. They both build and badge many machines for other brands.
Never think a particular dealer can't get parts for another brand. They (or their tech) choose what machines they will or won't service/work on, unless they're contracted to only service the brand they sell. Like Sears used to be with their Kenmore brand. Until a few years ago Sears repairmen were only allowed to service Kenmores.
The information I've said here comes from a few good sources, including an honest good man who was a Babylock dealer for many years.
Cari
#25
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 275
I'm dying here. I have no trouble getting parts for Brother or Babylock. In fact, the vast majority of parts are interchangeable and are cross referenced so I can order from multiple suppliers. There is zero mechanical difference between Brother machines and the equivalent Babylock. The ONLY differences are cosmetic, software and support. Babylock also sells machines made by Janome, HandiQuilter and others. They only unique machines Babylock sells are their Overlock/Serger machines. Full disclosure, I worked for a dealer who sold both Babylock and Brother and serviced anything that came through the door.
#26
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,558
I think most, if not all, sewing machine manufacturers produce several different models in order to meet demand in such a wide marketplace. They have to have products to sell to all skill and income levels, from what one salesman described to me as "disposable starters", to the quality-built, high-end machines for experienced sewists with who have more disposable income to invest. I wonder if you only see the less expensive, plastic Brother machines in your shop because the more expensive Brothers don't require repair as often as the high-end Baby Locks, and hence your opinion of Brother is that it's a shoddily built product across the board.
Last edited by Peckish; 02-17-2016 at 11:22 PM.
#27
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 58
Brother's THE Dream Machine and Baby lock's Destiny are the same machine manufactured by Brother International. The differences are cosmetic and software (Disney vs Nancy Zieman, no stitch creator on Destiny--Brother keeps that feature exclusive on their branded machines). In fact, the MSRP on both machines is identical, but I have found that Brother dealers will sell their machines for a lot less than Baby Lock dealers. My favorite Baby Lock dealer and my favorite Baby Lock educator were both quite miffed when I mentioned that the Brother branded machines can be obtained at much reduced prices. Yet the dealer admitted knowing that and was obviously annoyed by it saying she could not sell hers at those prices. Both the dealer and the educator refer to the different branded equivalent machines as the same machine--because essentially they are. But Baby Lock has a reputation of exclusivity which must be upheld, and they also have to purchase their machines from other manufacturers with associated costs. You pay for that. You also pay for the extra services offered at some Baby Lock dealers.
A last note, in comparing a Baby Lock and Brother machine, they need to be the equivalent machines, i.e. DreamWeaver XE and Unity, DreamMaker and Spirit etc. If one were to compare a Baby Lock high-end Brother-made machine to a lower-end Brother machine, of course there will be a huge gap in quality. Some of the lower-end Baby Lock's have been troublesome just as their Brother counterparts. Apples to apples, oranges to oranges...
A last note, in comparing a Baby Lock and Brother machine, they need to be the equivalent machines, i.e. DreamWeaver XE and Unity, DreamMaker and Spirit etc. If one were to compare a Baby Lock high-end Brother-made machine to a lower-end Brother machine, of course there will be a huge gap in quality. Some of the lower-end Baby Lock's have been troublesome just as their Brother counterparts. Apples to apples, oranges to oranges...
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Illinois/Wisconsin
Posts: 878
I am a true Brothers fan. I have 3. One I bought in 1959, it is all metal and still works. I will never give it up. The second is a 1500, which only sews straight stitches. It is my "work horse". My last one is a Laura Ashley N2000. Has all the bells and whistles that I wanted. Paid $1500. for it about 7 years ago and I love it! Good luck and happy sewing whatever you decide. Just finished this quilt yesterday. Pieced and FMQ on my N2000.
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#29
I have 7 machines - a Pfaff, 2 Janomes, 2 Singers, and 2 Brothers; a Brother 1500s and a Brother SE-270D.
The Brother 270D is a re-manufactured machine my husband bought from Overstock for $300. It's small, lightweight, has a 4" hoop for embroidery. It's been going strong for about 10 years now, and was my "daily driver" for about 5 years.
Then I upgraded to my "Big Brother" - the 1500s. Holy cow, do I love this machine! Big, sturdy, and fast at 1500 stitches per minute. Auto-threader, cutter, knee lift. Most of my other machines are now sitting in closets. I told my husband if something ever happened to this machine, I'd buy another 1500 in a New York minute.
My opinion is you cannot go wrong with Brother.
The Brother 270D is a re-manufactured machine my husband bought from Overstock for $300. It's small, lightweight, has a 4" hoop for embroidery. It's been going strong for about 10 years now, and was my "daily driver" for about 5 years.
Then I upgraded to my "Big Brother" - the 1500s. Holy cow, do I love this machine! Big, sturdy, and fast at 1500 stitches per minute. Auto-threader, cutter, knee lift. Most of my other machines are now sitting in closets. I told my husband if something ever happened to this machine, I'd buy another 1500 in a New York minute.
My opinion is you cannot go wrong with Brother.
I feel the same as you about the Brother PQ1500.... Its an awesome horse....
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