The Sewing Place

Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move

HenriettaMaria

Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« on: April 06, 2019, 15:44:02 PM »
Just discovered my local (well, half an hour drive away) sewing machine emporium is no more and the owners have gone to live in Weymouth where they are running a web-based business.

Website is still nominally www.theobaldsewingmachines.co.uk but it looks like it's work in progress.  The 'contact us' page has phone number and email address so they can still help for parts, etc.

Mr Twingo

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2019, 18:15:01 PM »
I stumbled across that website a few months ago when searching for a portable walking foot heavy duty sewing machine. Theobald's used to sell the model I was looking for, so I emailed them and received a response from Robert Theobald within a couple of hours.


Marniesews

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2019, 22:27:14 PM »
Oh no!  :S

I wish I'd known although I certainly don't blame him for moving. I'd have taken my old Berninas in before he left if I'd realised though - I've had none of them serviced since I bought them over the last few years and I've been thinking about it for at least 6 months wondering if he'd give me a bulk discount.

The Northampton sewing shop closed down about a year after I bought my coverstitch from them so I can't go there and the one in Cambridge isn't easy to use as there's no parking in easy carrying distance and driving through Cambridge is a pain. That leaves Tudor Rose Patchwork who are convenient in every way but I don't know how good their engineer is. I'm a bit nervous that they're removed from the premises. I don't suppose anyone else uses them? Where will you go @HenriettaMaria ? There's a place that sounds good at Waltham Cross but that's probably an hour's drive from me.

Ah well, we usually go to Lyme Regis each year for the summer half term (not this year as DGD will be mid GCSEs) but perhaps next year we could drop them off on the way and pick them up on the way back!
Hopefully back more regularly! Ballroom sewing may be permanently paused but bag making is the current focus.

cbcarolyn

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2019, 23:38:30 PM »
There is a sewing machine place a bit further down the road in Bedford, I notice the sewing in UK bedford group are saying good service from there

BSK

https://www.bsk.co.uk/

I have not used the service so can't comment. but was in there recently and asked about it - it is £65, you drop it off sometime before Saturday, and the collect after Saturday

Greybird

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2019, 09:28:13 AM »
BSK have had a very good name in the knitting machine world. I have bought things - by phone I think? - from them and had very good service.

Marniesews

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2019, 10:00:13 AM »
BSK?!!! I go there regularly (it's not too far from a friend who I visit most weeks) but for some weird reason I didn't connect them, perhaps because I think of them as embroidery specialists although that doesn't really explain why they wouldn't do servicing either.  :[  My mind has become a place of random connections and disconnections it seems.




Hopefully back more regularly! Ballroom sewing may be permanently paused but bag making is the current focus.

twopence

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2019, 10:08:40 AM »
I think that The Bramble Patch in Weldon, Northants have taken over some machines from when the Northampton shop closed and I’m sure I’ve seen a notice there saying that they can send them to Northampton for service.

Then there’s Steve in North Watford who is a Bernina engineer.

Flobear

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2019, 11:25:30 AM »
When I saw the title, I thought it was a football thread :D

I tried to get recommendations for servicing in my area but the chap whose praises are sung by a couple of sew-ers I know is semi-retired and only does older machines which would be fine for Bernina but not for the Pfaff. In the end I had to take the plunge and try a name I found on the internet. He's been kind and helpful so far so I hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship!!

Weymouth is 36 miles away so I guess that's a possibility if 'Steve' doesn't work out.
« Last Edit: April 10, 2019, 11:27:03 AM by FloBear »
Proud new owner of Elvistoo !!

HenriettaMaria

Re: Luton's loss is Weymouth's gain - Theobald's has move
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2019, 11:43:09 AM »
@Marniesews - I did a bit of research and found this guy in Hitchin:

https://rpsewingmachines.co.uk/about-us/

I haven't had the need to try him out yet but the fact he does home visits is an incentive to do so when I next need the services of an engineer.