Today I’m taking a New Brother PR655 embroidery machine to a customer in Lancaster.
My brother, Steve, ordered the PR655, Brothers latest six needle embroidery machine, and it’s arrived just a few days later. The packaging is almost the same size as a small car and most people haven’t got the room to store it.
So, out of the box it comes and once ‘naked’ this PR655 is transferred into our workshop for pre-delivery checks and tests. First job is to remove the internal packaging and taping that keep the bracket arm from sliding around during shipping. A quick check in the raceway to make sure it’s all clear and then next step is to open and build up the cop mast and stand. Once the control screen is moved into position it’s time to ‘switch-on’.
The PR655, like all previous ‘PR’ models, displays a number of screen savers which show various embroidery applications such as towels, bags, T-shirts and dresses. Many of our PR customers generate an income by personalising baby wear. Some create personalized work wear and ‘horse’ wear. What ever you decide to use your PR655 for make sure you get in touch with Bambers. We offer an unbeatable lease deal and an aftersales service that is second to none.
The next step is to build up an embroidery design on the easy to use control screen and then thread the PR655 up with appropriate colours. Once you have created or uploaded your embroidery design, The PR655 will display the colour order so you place each colour in the correct order. Even though the PR655 is a six needle embroidery machine you could, if you wished, embroider a design with more than six colours.
So, a trip up to the first floor to select some embroidery threads for this particular job. By the way, if you need any embroidery threads for your machine you should phone us (0161 707 7786) and ask to speak to our girls. They are very helpful and our large stocks usually mean your order will arrive within 2 – 3 days.
Whenever I’m delivering a new PR655 to a customer I usually take a metre or two of medium weight interfacing. It works well as a standard stabilizer and it helps our customers while they learn how to embroider various fabrics. Our interfacing sells at only 95p a metre and, if memory services, it’s about 73/74 cm wide.
Of course, when our PR customers move on to embroidering baby wear and the like they usually request a more specialized stabilizer. This is where our range of Guterman embroidery stabilizer comes in very handy. Gutermann produce an excellent range of stabilizers with both soft and tear easy. Phone the girls for more advice or to place your order.
Anyway, I’ve created a design for my customer and I’ve entered the name of his company which, for his convenience, I’ve blanked out in my photo. The next step is to press ‘GO’ and start this Brother PR655 embroidering. This design will take 20 minutes to complete which gives me time to retreat to my office for a quick cup of tea and to catch up with some of my paperwork.
My main role in our family sewing machine business is to deal with all our education customers. We supply machines and spares and accessories to schools and colleges all over the UK. I also organise all the service work for many of the schools in our region. Our school service schedule is booked up until December 2014 so we must be doing something right.
By the way, that’s not cake in the white bag – it’s a number of motor sockets for a Janome sewing machine.
Once the PR655 has finished embroidering it will play a tune to let you know the job is done. With some new fonts this PR655 has made a good job of this particular test. Tensions are fine and, apart from a small loop on one of our Eagles feet caused by a loose thread this job is perfect. We’ve delivered the PR655, and previous models, to customers all over the UK and we always like to test every machine before it leaves, just so we can ensure each customer receives a perfect PR machine.
All my tests are now complete so it’s time to load this PR655 into my car ready for the journey up to Lancaster. I’d normally take the van but Ray, our driver, had already taken it earlier this morning. He is returning a Brother PR650 to a customer near Hastings. Sue, has four PR models and as well as buying her embroidery machines from Bambers, we also service them every year. This includes the collection and return of her machines, something we can arrange for anyone with a PR model. Call us, if you’re interested.
Anyway, just over an hour or so later I reach my destination, a small business in Lancaster. Jeff, helps me in with the new PR655 and offers me a cup of coffee – a good start. I meet his colleagues, Sara and Dave and I begin to show them all how to use their new Brother PR655. I always spend time with our customers showing them the basics – operating the control screen, threading up, hooping up and embroidering basic designs and text. This gives them the confidence to start using their new machine and helps to speed up the learning process.
Soon enough the job is done and we have another group of happy customers. Time to leave and head for home..
