I sold two items on CL and bought another, this beautiful machine:
According to what I've read online and from the seller, this is a semi-industrial machine used in light manufacturing. The lady who owned and used it for years was a professional seamstress and sewed all kinds of fabrics and leathers, even upholstery. She passed away and the daughter had no idea what to do with it and was grateful it was going to be out of her garage.
(It's strange that a daughter wouldn't want to keep and treasure an item that her own mother treasured. Do you think that's strange?)
Anyway, it runs so smoothly and quietly that you'd hardly know it's an industrial machine by just listening to it. The Consew .33 clutch is rather nice and seems a good pairing for a light industrial application. There is a walking foot included as well as a bunch of other feet. However, I'm not yet sure what it's set up to do, exactly. I'm interested in reading the manual just to see what it recommends and whether I can denote the differences between this particular model and the 5-- series and other 6-- series Berninas. Not a bad deal for $90.
I've only owned it for about 2 hours, so I'm still just looking at it, seeing where to oil it, etc.
And in other great sewing machine news today, my friend Janet wrote that she has snagged a really nice machine for me in a nearby state. It's raining machines. I can't believe this is all happening!
Wow! What a neat machine. I want a Bernina Favorit. This looks like a heavy duty version of it.
ReplyDeleteHi, Wil. Yeah, it's pretty nice. The manual is for the 540 and 542 machines so I assume this is an updated and more robust version. The little things about this machine really impress me such as the all-steel stitch selection mechanism with a toothed guide. I was able to carry it in my house w/out having to take the entire contraption apart, so it's not a heavy or heavy duty industrial, just semi-industrial. I'm not sure where this fits into a future sewing area but I'd like to keep it for a little while and see if I come to really like it.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a cool machine, and all those decorative stitches! You will have fun with this one, I think.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! I like to get under the hood and get a machine running smoothly but it's nice to occasionally buy one that doesn't need work. All this one needs is oil and an exterior cleaning. I even like the dinette-style laminate table. I've never had a clutch this quiet and smooth, so I may not convert to a Servo.
ReplyDeleteI got the same machine a few years ago and it has been awesome. It runs like water over tough stuff and doesn't hesitate at all.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get a manual with it though. Did the manual you got work with your machine? I don't know how to use a lot of the machine's features. I would love to get a copy of the manual.
The manual that came with mine doesn't specify the model number of my machine; rather, it's for the prior generation 5xx series. The machines are so similar that it's perfectly useful. I'll scan in the manual I have and you can download for free. Just give me some time.
Deletei just got 540 and have seen it converted to an industrial motor do you think it would be a hard switch?
ReplyDeleteNot hard at all. Make sure you get a table that the 540 will fit into. There is a 540 Favorit currently listed on eBay that is in an industrial table. Have fun with it!
Deleteis there a certain type of industrial table to look for?
DeleteI got the same machine from a daughter who was letting it go after her mom died. I've used it extensively for all sorts of tough jobs.
ReplyDeleteI would allay love to get the manual for out if you happened to have scanned it. I know it could do lots more things if I only knew what they were.
Thanks!