...Like
consulting with mechanical engineers, drawing up blueprints, casting
molds to exact specifications and tolerances, using
time-tested, solid manufacturing principles and
hi-tech, precise machining processes.
Examine
the details, compare, investigate-come in and try it yourself.
If
you're looking for the best professional long-arm
quilting machine available, you just found it.
You've heard
it all your life: little things mean a lot.
Details make the difference between just another quilt, and your
work of art.
Old proverbs
wouldn't last long, if they didn't have a serious ring of truth
to them, and as one of the original quilting machine manufacturers,
A-1 believes they are here today because they pay serious
attention to details in creating the most precision-machined,
hand-guided, long-arm quilting machine in the world.
We invite you
to examine the details, welcome your questions and hope
you'll compare our A-1 Elite Longarm Machine with any other machine
on the market.
This isn't
just a sewing machine; it's a revolution in quilting
machine technology.
Overview
of Features:
[Back to Top]
Our
A-1 Longarm is the only cast-aluminum (not welded)
quilting machine made in the USA. This means the A-1 is strong and
study, but extremely lightweight and easy to operate and maneuver.
It literally glides as it stitches. We designed a 9"
x 23" throat to make it easy to thread and sew from either
side, and painted away that old industrial look to keep you surrounded
in beauty, whether you're quilting for pleasure of profit. (We didn't
think professional had to mean ugly.)
Inside
are other important details. Computerized, precision-machining,
molded bearing mounts, gear timing and cast iron bushings may sound
like Greek to you, but they all contribute to making the machine
quieter, and smooth, precise, accurate stitching. We also added 
a hopping foot to ride easily over seams, and large capacity bobbins,
so you spend more time quilting, with less time changing.
In
short, we've kept the dependable, solid qualities of the 1950's,
updated with customized features for today.
Specific
Features on Machine Head:
[Back to Top]
-
Lightweight
cast aluminum industrial machine head with exclusive webbing
design for added strength, no vibration.
- Hi-tech CNC
machining process for precise, quality stitching and minimal
noise.
- Integrated
molded bearing mounts (not flange bearings or pillow block style
bearings)
- Standard
hi-speed professional/industrial sewing machine design ready to
handle all work.
- Throat
size 9" x 23" - perfect size for professionals.
- Variable
speed control - easily accessible from either side.
- Dual controls
(can run back or front for pattern and outline quilting).
- Designed
to be extremely easy to thread from either side.
- Fluorescent
light with black light option.
- D.C. Motor
- specially designed to sew fast, or very slow for meandering/stippling.
- Jumbo sewing
hook
- Large
machine bobbins
- Industrial
belt with belt guard
- Gear timing
- 10
year warranty on machine casting
- 1 year warranty
on new machine
- Free
set-up and 4 hour training!
New
- Make sure you try out A-1 Elite's newest wheels (as of 11/03).
They are the BEST on the market today. You will not operate any
other longarm machine that is any smoother than the A-1 Elite system.
FAQ'S
(Frequently Asked Questions):
[Back to Top]
What about customer
support?
We
here at Blue Ribbon Quilt Company pride ourselves on keeping
customer satisfaction the #1 priority. If you ever need
assistance with any part of your A-1 Machine we will be
happy to either walk you through it by phone, e-mail you
pictures and diagrams or if necessary come and repair your
machine within the first year. After this time we are always
available by phone or e-mail and we keep all of our customers
up-to-date with the latest software upgrades as they are
come out. We also will be happy to supply anyone with a
list of references.
"Won't
the shorter throat space cut down on my quilting area?"
The
A-1 Elite was designed to quilt the area of the quilt you
can comfortable reach. Although some machines come with
26" throats, the A-1, because of it's roller design,
only has 1" less total quilting depth. Longer throat
space can be wasted because there is a "sweet spot"
that falls within the A-1's 23" of space. Reaching
beyond this point makes it difficult to stitch with any
machine.
"How will
my machine come once it is ordered?"
The
machine table will come by common carrier to where you are
setting up the machine. Our only requirement is that you
get the un-assembled table in the area it is to be set-up.
Most machine heads are shipped to us here at Blue Ribbon
Quilt Co. We like to work with every machine before it is
placed in the customer's home. By quilting on it for about
4 or 5 hours we can guarantee that it would be a machine
we would love to own. This also gives us a chance to re-program
it if anything is changed in the shipping process. If you
are outside the travel areas the machine will be drop shipped
to you before our set-up date.
"What kind
of training comes with the machine?"
We
offer *FREE set-up and training. Nomally
we come in on afternoon and set up the machine. We attach
zippered leaders to your machine and load a practice piece
onto it. We then let you "bond" with your machine
for the remainder of the day and evening. So many times
new owners will have a multitude of questions after we leave.
The next morning we come back and answer any questions or
concerns you've had with your "bonding" time.
After that our 4-6 hour training session begins working
with you on things like, loading the quilt, basic machine
maintenance, working with the laser, ruler work, thread
and just about anything else you are ready for. *We
offer this service for free if you are within our 500 mile
radius. After that there is a minimal charge.
"What does
it mean to be an LAChat Approved Dealer?"
Our
network of authorized dealers got together to come up with
some guidlines to keep us all accountable for sales and
servicing A-1 Quilting Machines. To be included in the LAChat
Approved Dealers each dealer needs to have met or exceeded
the following qualifications:
-
They provide free set-up and beginners training that usually
runs 4 - 6 hours on customer’s own machine at no
extra cost. They also spend the time needed to go over
general maintenance of your machine and answer any questions
the customer might have. (If you are outside the dealers
travel area a small travel fee may be
charged. This distance varies by dealer.)
- Provide
excellent service to all their A-1 customers before and
AFTER THE SALE.
- They
continue to contribute knowledge to their customers by
individual instruction during the customer's learning
curve.
-
All of the dealers listed are accomplished quilters themselves.
They are well informed on the latest trends in quilting
and are more than happy to share their expertise with
their clients.
- All
dealers on this page are easily accessible on the internet
or by phone and freely give their customers every available
way to contact them at least 6 days a week should problems
occur.
- And
most importantly, LongarmChat approved dealers
generously contribute pictures, ideas and inspiration
to the forums regularly and are well respected
within the longarm community.
Please
Note:While there are a few other individuals and
businesses out there that do sell A-1 Quilting Machines,
they DO NOT meet the requirements to be approved by LongarmChat.com.
Please keep this in mind when choosing your A-1 dealer.
We here at LongarmChat.com are a community and our customers
hold the dealers listed here publicly accountable. If you
are a current owner of an A-1 machine and feel any of the
above representatives do not meet these listed requirements,
please e-mail Linda@LongarmChat.com for the dealer in question
to be reviewed. This listing will be carefully monitored
and only those dealers that continually displayexcellence
in service will be allowed on this listing.
Click
here for A-1's Current Pricing
Contact
Information:
[
