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| Juki:UNION SPECIAL 51200 (Sewing Machine) | | Viewed 634 time(s) | | Review rated Very Helpful by 11 people | | Reviewed by: | un|steady | 
 | About un|steady | | CA USA | | Member since: 6/20/06 | | Reviews written: 13 | | Sewing skills:Advanced | | Favored by: 1 people | | sewing machines reviewed: 6 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 8/21/09 7:57 PM | | Approx price paid: | $500 | | Had this machine for: | 3 months | | Recommended? | Yes | Features
- Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
- Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure
| | What un|steady likes about this machine
This machine is actually a UNION SPECIAL 51200. For some odd reason, Union Special wasn't in the pulldown menu for brands.
The 51200 is a chainstitch machine specifically. Built in the 50's, this thing is amazing. The head alone (which itself weighs 97 lbs) I bought separate and shipped to me from Canada was $185. Table and motor an additional $350.
This particular model is a 51200 BP. The BP meaning it was made for medium weight fabrics and was mainly used for attaching side stays of shoes. I use it for doing chain stitched hems on denim, which in my field, people will pay extra for.
I wish I could show pictures of this machine and the beautifully perfect stitch it does! It is a self oiler so all you need to do is maintain the oil level in the reservoir. It has an integrated walking foot which is a plus and a minus. The plus is that it keeps fabrics even and can go through many layers with no problems, BUT, the bad thing is that you have no free room to the right of the needle, because the walking foot is attached from underneath and behind, thus causing a "tree" to be standing to the right back of the needle, about an inch back and an inch to the right. Know what I mean? So the only stitch work it really can do is at the edges of fabric. Think like a serger, kind of.
This is an industrial machine, so no, you will not be able to travel with it and no it does not have a ton of bells and whistles. It does what it was made for, hems and edge stitching with a chain. PERFECT! I have about 6 machines now, and each has it's own duty it fulfills in every project.
UPDATE: You can see pictures of this machine on my webpage under "alterations". (No, I am NOT soliciting here) This is strictly for if you would like to see this machine. What un|steady does not like about this machine
There's nothing I don't like about this machine. It's a heavy duty chainstitcher! The stitches are perfect and will go through an endless amount of layers!
It's like almost 60 years old and it runs beautifully! | *LOGIN to add a comment to this review
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| Reader Comments | | maryl | 8/21/09 | Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. It's so interesting! I didn't even know there was such a thing as a chain stitch only machine. | | * * * | | Mufffet | 8/21/09 | Very interesting review! Thanks! | | * * * | | poorpigling | 8/22/09 | I really appreciate reviews on these machines we don't hear about very often..kudos for buying and reviewing it. | | * * * | | catsmeow | 8/22/09 | Thank you for your review! It is very interesting to read about such a different kind of machine than the usual ones (although I like reading their reviews, too). Industrial machines are intriguing! | | * * * | | Franksdottir | 8/22/09 | I had no idea machines like this existed, so I really enjoyed reading this review. | | * * * | | jilly cooper | 8/22/09 | great machine. isn't it nice that a machine can be loved even if it is years old:) | | * * * | | Leora | 8/23/09 | Sounds like a great machine! | | * * * | | MaryDB | 8/23/09 | OMG, I almost cried when I saw a review for a Union Special sewing machine. My dad (who died last year) was a machinist who worked for Union Special for over 45 years in the 1940s - 1980s. It was a great company, and the people who worked at the Huntley, Illinois (and Chicago) plants took great pride in their work. He helped make your machine. I'm glad you are enjoying it.
We were home sewers who always had Singers. My dad dismissed the machines he made as something we wouldn't be interested in since they were industrial.
| | * * * | | un|steady | 8/23/09 | MaryDB: It would have been amazing if my dad worked for the Union Special Co.! (Talk about a hook up...) Union Specials are the most sought after machine for those of us who specialize in raw denim jeans and denim design. I really love industrial machines. The stitching is absolutely perfect, but of course, they'd have to be. They are the machines that make all of our store bought clothes. | | * * * | | my_seamstress | 8/24/09 | I got my first industrial over the weekend. Not a chainstitcher, just a zigzag/straight stitch. I get it on the jeans hems. Sounds like a great machine! | | * * * |
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