Bob,
If you are feeling brave, look at the machines made in the UK by
https://www.cobrabraids.com/. You could set up in a new career... providing harness braiding services in either cotton or wire to the CMP community.
You can download a data sheet from their Australian distributor's website at
https://airbout.com.au/wp-content/up...-P1-and-P2.pdf
As you point out, most things (or their knock-offs) can be bought in China...