It is hard to say exactly what the purpose of this particular machine is, but it is definitely worth speaking about. It is also hard to say what exactly its proper title would be, for sake of this entry, we will call it a freestanding cylinder arm. The first image is from Bega, although it is quite messy in the background it was the best picture for a sense of scale - you should see two, a white one and a green one. In the other two images you can begin to see that it is kind of like a combination of the bad robots in the Terminator, and the good robot Johnnie5. The motor sits on top of the whole apparatus and the belt connects to the head-pulley at the front of the machine (or at least as close to the actual needle bar as you can be). It has two pedals at the bottom, one for the drive, and one for possibly a stop mechanism, or maybe a thread cutting device. It is hard to imagine the second smaller pedal would be for reverse, or that there is reverse at all - as you can see from the diagram, it would probably not work in reverse, or if it did - it would be quite cumbersome and clumsy. Not to mention that because these are probably always used with a folder, there would not be the possibility of moving the fabric back, you can see where the folder is mounted in the lower image. What is also unique about this machine is that it uses a chain stitch instead of a lock stitch. This is for one of two reasons, either it is due to tradition or it is because of how small the cylinder arm is underneath where the stitching occurs, therefor there is no room for a bobbin. Because the chain stitch can be fed like a serger (or overlock) machine, there is no need for a bobbin - not to mention that even if you were using a large bobbin case, you would have to replace it every few minutes of sewing time. This is why there are six thread tension knobs on top, one for each of the three stitch-seams, top and bottom. This particular one in the two lower pictures was set up to lay three stitches, three needles, 3 sets of threads.

But once your set up with your material and have your thread routed and folder in place, you can go ahead and lay down some clean seams with ease. As you can see in the lower image, the material comes from both sides and meets up at the end of the cylinder arm. Why you cannot have the same action/result with a regular machine is a bit of a mystery. Although, what this machine allows you is not to have any struggle with your material fighting for space on the table between the needle bar and the structure of your machine to the immediate right. You could get an extended arm machine with an extra long bed, but this cylinder arm type machine allows your fabric to be completely free on both sides, which prevents unnecessary tugging and pulling of your fabric. When all is said and done, this machine is intended for the heaviest of industry people. To have this in a home environment, or even a small company would be pretty luxurious, consider this a good example of the right tool for the job: but only once you have learned every other way of accomplishing the same types of stitch and seam combinations with more typical machines.

Here are the last three shops to enter the dialogue of the Brother DB2-B791-015 site. They are Ace Sewing Machine Co., Alberoni Sewing Machine Inc., and Best Sewing Machine. All of which are good shops and deserve their credibility.

Ace is an otherwise regular destination. They have a very well organized retail area where you can pick up a lot of things that non of the other shops offer, like small tools, button and craft notions, miscellaneous threads (and in smaller amounts than 6000 yds.), quality grommet presses, pattern making kits, shears and snips in all price ranges, pattern paper, and other products. Ace is always well staffed with plenty of people to help out and answer questions. They have a fair amount of plastic models (compact/transportable “home” machines), and some basic industrial machines. If there was a downfall to their shop it would be the lack of used industrial machines. But that does not mean it isn’t worth a look inside, they have a good selection of presser feet, and thread for overlock machines (sergers), not to mention some various heavy tools for fabrication of who knows what in regards to sewing machines, but the kind of stuff that you would expect to see in a hardware store.

Alberoni is a non-partial destination, you can find just about anything new that you may need there. It is a mail-order company also - so when you arrive, expect to stand at a counter and talk to salespeople, who can find what it is that you may be looking for in their database. The sales floor is small but does have some machines on display, along with the proverbial case of presser feet, which are always a weird experience. Apparently when presser feet are in a display case, they suddenly become more expensive, even when a few blocks away you can find the same feet for ten dollars less. No matter how you cut it, Alberoni is a very clear place to find newer equipment and have clear communications about it.

Best Sewing Machine is perhaps the newest retail space of all. Not much can be gathered at this time except that the salesmen there was clearly knowledgeable and was willing to answer questions. It has a very clean retail space and is easy to browse about their many used machines and small parts.

Eddy Sewing Machine is a new shop (for the Brother’s benefit), although other Angelinos have probably been taking advantage of it for many years. Eddy Sewing Machine is just around the corner from Alberoni’s, which is getting close to the southern most end of the Los Angeles fashion district around Main St. and 16th St. Eddy Sewing Machine may have been the smallest shop that was discovered on this journey. Although, it was very thorough in its inventory, had some very clean machines, and good help. This is the same shop that had the Singer 111 feet in an earlier post, as it is also the same shop that claimed it could in fact get needle feed presser feet with guides on them, but for an incredibly high price around $75.00 per foot, which is what cemented the idea that the existing feet for the Brother must be modified.

One of their very clean machines was this Reece buttonholer.

In hindsight it is a shame that more information about it was not available, because it is a true beauty of industrial sewing machines. In the closer shot you can see how perfect everything on the machine is. Whether or not it lays down a perfect button hole remains to be seen, but it would be hard to imagine that it would fall below par, this was/is a very clean machine. From what little information there is about Reece machines (hopefully more in time), they have a certain affinity towards the pocket holes, button holes, and other crevice type situations.

One of the other interesting things (and also something to be discussed at greater length in time) about Eddy Sewing Machine was learning about the cylinder-bed style systems which are not on a table but instead held/cantilevered (cantilevered) above the ground and used for sewing pant legs, arm sleeves, and other tubular terms. Although, that is not necessarily the case, as they still do not sew tubes, but rather only one side of what would become a tube(?).

Eddy Sewing Machine Post-Script:

Anyone know what this is, so far it is the grandaddy of all mystery machines.