Pfaff 130 Sewing Machine

[George Brennan]

Hi Group:

 

I have a Pfaff 130 sewing machine, and have a someone who is intereted in buying it. The machine comes with accessories, hand crank, many spools of heavy thread, and a carrying case. I consider the machine to be in very good condition. What would be a fair price for the machine?

 

Thanks for your help,

 

George Brennan

 

P.S. For the person keeping track of the Passports.

 

My first Passport 40 was hull #69. The dealer took it back and sold it to someone else.

I then bought hull #89 in 1985. I sold it last year to Eric and Eulalie Laschever of Mercer Island, WA

[P. Sherwood]

I paid $150 a few years ago for my Pfaff 130, which was in very good or
excellent condition, came with some accessories but not the complete
collection of feet, and a few spools of garden-variety cotton thread
(not the V-69 or V-92 dacron stuff you�d use for canvas or sail work).
The hand crank on your machine -- really nice to have for heavier work
-- should enhance the price nicely.

Check out E-Bay and Craig�s List for a quick survey of what machines go
for. There�s also a Pfaff email group on Yahoo.

Phil
s/v Cynosure
Bocas del Toro

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[Ian Macrae]

I've been thinking of getting a sewing machine for boat related
projects, but haven't gotten to the point of getting serious and doing
some research on the various options. How does the Pfaff 130 compare
to that Sailrite walking foot model that you see all the time on the
back cover of sailing magazines? Any advice, tips, etc., about
various machines, options, etc., would be appreciated. Thanks.

Also, I was recently in an anchorage with two superyachts, Bliss and
Drumbeg. Both had 5 sets of spreaders. Both had a red anchor light
atop their mast, rather than a white anchor light. Are there
different rules for superyachts? Maybe their masts intruded into
space normally reserved for airplanes? Why the red anchor lights?

Ian San Diego
Freyja, #49 Puerto Vallarta

[P. Sherwood]

You can get a Pfaff 130 for a couple hundred bucks or a lot less,
depending on condition. A new portable LSZ-1 will cost you $900 plus
shipping. You might get lucky and find one on Craig�s List or E-Bay, but
I never have. Don�t know whether people just don�t sell them, or whether
they�re snapped up instantly when they do appear.

The Pfaff is really well made, of precision German 1950s-era
manufacuring. I�ve never heard of an LSZ-1 wearing out, stripping crappy
plastic gears, etc., even after years of very heavy use. And even if you
have a problem, Sailrite (in my experience) is an excellent company that
stands behind the stuff they sell. You can still get Pfaff 130 parts and
a lot of know-how from aftermarket vendors, hobbyists, etc.

Both will do both straight and zig-zag stitches (talking about the LSZ-1
here; don�t bother with a machine that does only straight stitches or
that doesn�t have a walking foot). The LSZ-1 zigzag stitch is a little
longer than the Pfaff 130 zigzag. Both let you sew in reverse and move
the needle to left or right of center, adjust stitch length, etc.

The Pfaff 130 is strong and will sew pretty heavy stuff, multiple
thicknesses, etc. The LSZ-1 spec says the motor is 1.5 A; I think my
Pfaff has a 0.9 or 1.0 A motor. How many layers or thicknesses you can
sew through depends (obviously) on the weight of the material, condition
of the needle, etc. I don�t think you�re going to sew through eight
layers of sail cloth such as Carol Hasse uses for the bulletproof sails
her loft builds with either machine. You can probably sew through eight
layers of more "ordinary" sailcloth, say, 8- or 9-oz dacron, with the
LSZ; the Pfaff might be able to handle only 6 layers.

The LSZ-1 has a cogged drive belt; the 130 drive belt is smooth (thus
can slip sometimes when starting up and working with heavy or thick stuff).

The 130 timing belt, unfortunately, is not replaceable. At least, I�ve
never found a replacement. So if it goes, you�re SOL. The good news is
that unless abused (for example, soaked with oil), they seem to last
virtually indefinitely. I don�t know what the LSZ does for a timing
belt, but I�m sure it�s beefy and reliable (and replaceable).

Tuning up a Pfaff is not hard. Setting the timing is a little confusing
the first time you do it, but then it�s easy. (I discovered a couple of
little tricks that make the job much quicker and easier.) I�ve never
tuned up an LSZ but am told they�re quite straightforward.

The LSZ doesn�t seem to come with all that many attachments and
accessories (but that doesn�t limit its utility for sail and canvas
work, upholstering, etc.). You can find a 130 with a dozen or more
different feet, for different purposes. The zipper foot is for me by far
the most useful; the other feet are for complex and fine and subtle
sewing that is far beyond my ham-fisted and primitive capabilities.

That�s all I can think of ... HTH.

Phil
s/v Cynosure
Bocas del Toro

[Sandy and Brian Uffelman]

Yachts over 65' (or couple million $$$$!) have the option of
displaying red masthead lights while at anchor

Brian Uffelman
J/105 owner and casual observer

[Ian Macrae]

Phil, thanks for that nice detailed knowledgeable answer. For my
needs, the Pfaff is now ahead on points. If I need 8 layers of sail
cloth sewn and am out to sea or otherwise away from a sailloft, I'll
do it by hand! My needs right now are more for caprail covers, bimini
and main sail cover repairs, that sort of thing, so the Pfaff sounds
like the ticket.

Anybody have any tips on cap rail cover design?

Brian, I'm assuming the 65' height for a red mast light is for
airplanes, eh? What a great way to find your boat in a crowded
anchorage at night.

Ian