Are these that rare?
 

Not rare, but expensive machines...good machines. :)

I purchased a Brother industrial machine that is super fast and sews thru a lot with the table cost $200. Then I had to get a different motor and a larger pulley & belt that set me back another $250. Plus gallons of the oil that the gears in bottom sit in. Great machine. Had to leave it in my other house until I get my room addition and can bring it down to use. I made some tool bags of vinyl for DH that he has hanging in the shop. they roll up and tie if he wants to take them to the field.

I think the availability and price of the commercial machines depends on the area of the country where you live. I bought an older model Consew machine last year that looked a lot like the one pictured for $250.00. It was the model that came with the walking foot, was on a heavy metal frame/table, was in great shape and sewed like a dream. I found it in an add in the newspaper.

I don't know what the original price on it was, but yes, commercial machines to fetch a higher amount. But, I still wouldn't pay the asking price. I see them on my local CL and estate sales quite often.

That machine probably cost that much or double new - I had to pay it for mine. However, there is less demand right now so the price on the industrials IS lower than it was for a long time. If you buy one you need to do a bit of research and then know how to work on them - getting them repaired is REALLY expensive. A repair man either has to make a visit or you have to haul it. Those babies are HEAVY. It is how I learned a lot of repairs.

Nice machine and well worth the price.

I have a Singer 111W155 and love it, even if it doesn't have a reverse! I use it to make dog toys that are 16 layers thick! It will sew through leather belts it's so tough. I paid $150 off CL and I am very glad to have it. Lots more stuff to the walking foot machines but once you have them right and DO NOT let the thread go when starting you can sew anything! Also repaired the neightbors paintball vest with no problems. I must say I did change out the clutch motor for a Servo Motor and now have much more control. I do not use this one on quilts, for that I have an old Singer 107W and could not be happier then I am with that.
The most I have ever paid was $400 for a commercial serger and don't think I would do that again even though I am very happy with it. If you can practice patience you will find the right one at the right price.

Good Luck,
Lisa

Hi Bev, the Consew 226 is a clone of the Singer 111w155, which is a truly heavy-duty industrial machine designed to do auto upholstery work. As I believe someone typed above, this machine can go through a lot. The Consew 226 is basically the same machine with reverse added as a feature. I don't know if I'd call them rare, I think it all depends on whether you live in an area with a lot of factories/manufacturing.

I don't have any direct experience with the Consew 226; I've recently acquired my first 111w155, the machine it was based on, but am still waiting for some parts to come in. But both of these are walking foot/compound feed machines, meaning that the presser foot, the feed dogs and even the needle bar all move together to help advance the fabric. From what I've read, these machines are well-suited to heavy work and not suited to thin fabric.

$1000 sounds a little crazy to me, but that may be because I only wait for bargains. I got my 111w155 for just $15, for example, though I'll probably spend another $200 in parts. Remember that the Consew you're looking at is probably hooked up to a clutch motor, so if you want to get a DC servo motor, which will enable you to go at very slow speeds, you can expect to spend another $100 - $200.

If I got it into my head that I was going to spend four figures on a heavy-duty industrial, I'd probably buy one from Bob Kovar, who has a reputation for being the go-to guy for industrial and walking-foot machines. If I'm going to spend that kind of money I'd want to know there's someone I could call if there's a problem. He sells the Consew 206 (an updated version of the machine in your ad) for about $1300 and is based in Ohio, his website is here:

http://tolindsewmach.com/consew-206rb.html

good luck with it,