Deciding between two industrial sewing machine heads for your textile apparel machinery lineup? One is a vintage Singer that can sew after a cleanup; the other is an as-is Juki that needs repairs or becomes a parts donor. With the Singer listed at $240 and the Juki at $400, the choice comes down to whether you need working stitches today or salvageable components for later. Both are sold as machine heads only, so you'll need to supply your own table and motor.
Quick Verdict
If you need a functioning single-needle lockstitch machine for medium-weight fabrics, denim, vinyl, or light leather, the Singer 151w1 is the clear pick. The Juki MS-1190 is listed for parts or not working, so only buy it if you already have an MS-1190 or you have the skill to repair a shipment-damaged head.
At a Glance
| Consideration | Singer 151w1 | Juki MS-1190 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed Price | $240.00 | $400.00 |
| Condition | Used | For parts or not working |
| Stitch Type | Lockstitch, one needle | Double chainstitch |
| Feed Mechanism | Walking foot | Feed-off-the-arm |
| Country of Origin | United States | Japan |
| Head | Single | Single |
Where Each Product Wins
The Singer 151w1 wins for immediate practicality. It is a working head with a walking foot and a one-needle lockstitch, and the seller describes it as complete and in good condition. After cleaning and mounting on a table with a motor, it can handle denim, canvas, vinyl, and light leather.
The Juki MS-1190 wins as a specialty project. The feed-off-the-arm configuration is used for double chainstitch operations, and the listing openly calls it a candidate for salvaging hard-to-source Juki parts. If you own an MS-1190 that needs parts, or you repair chainstitch machines for a living, this head could be more valuable than its condition suggests.
Singer 151w1 Walking-Foot Head
The Singer 151w1 is a vintage industrial lockstitch head with a walking foot, designed for one needle and medium-weight materials. The listing calls out denim, canvas, vinyl, and light leather as suitable, and the machine is described as complete and in good condition. It is the lower-priced listing of the two, with a "Used" condition note and surplus-stock cleaning requirement. The head-only format means you will need to supply a table, motor, and any necessary hardware. For anyone who can handle a basic setup, this walking-foot head offers a straightforward path to sewing heavier fabrics.
Juki MS-1190 Feed-Off-The-Arm Head
The Juki MS-1190 is a feed-off-the-arm double chainstitch industrial head, a specialty machine in apparel production. The "as-is" label is explicit: it was damaged in shipment, isn't working, and needs repairs that haven't been diagnosed. For a repair-minded buyer, this could be an opportunity to bring a specialty head back to working order or to use it for salvaging hard-to-source Juki parts for an existing MS-1190. The condition means you take on all the risk and the unknown repair cost. If chainstitch isn't a core part of your operations, this head is a difficult sell.
Final Choice by Use Case
Choose the Singer 151w1 if you want a working single-needle lockstitch head for denim, canvas, vinyl, or light leather and you are willing to clean and mount it yourself. Choose the Juki MS-1190 only if you already own an MS-1190 and need spare parts, or if you are a repair specialist who can diagnose and fix a shipment-damaged chainstitch head.
