Janome Memory Craft 9000

Well, folks -- it has been a long time.

I'm still at it, collecting machines and sewing a few seams here and there.  Lately I've been getting rid of machines that cannot be fixed without considerable time and expense (not many) and acquiring more modern, computerized models at bargain prices.  While I've generally stayed away from these machines in an effort to avoid failing motherboards and circuits, bad sensors, and blown capacitors, there are a remarkable number of working machines that are still going strong after decades of use.  

Here is a venerable addition to the collection, a Janome MC 9000.  This is a sewing/embroidery combination from 1994 and is an upgrade of the 8000.  While the machine continues to accept the CF memory cards with embroidery designs made by Janome, it can also accept .jef files from cards with a PCMCIA adapter and has several other upgrades including a larger, better-designed UI with a larger LCD and logically placed controls.  As an embroidery machine, the 9000 is, by today's standards, a bit clunky and rather limited by the small hoops the machine can accept but as a sewing machine this is still quite a strong model with quiet, smooth operation, beautiful stitching, and the usual controls one finds on higher-end computerized models, excepting the missing automatic thread cutter -- a feature that at the time was only just becoming common.  That a '94 model still works this well indicates this machine was made to very high standards of quality, especially its electronics.  While the paging through the menu from the main screen and the beeps the machine emits with each and every input evoke an earlier, less sophisticated time, the stitches it produces are stellar.  I prefer a manual upper thread tension assembly but the electronic override does the job adequately.   

Mine has slight discoloration and a few light scratches but overall this machine is in excellent condition for its age.  And the price was simply too good to pass up.

 

I'd like to monogram my shirts and a few other items in a quick, efficient manner without having to set up a machine I use for sewing these items just for doing so, only to break it all down again.  (It's not really all that time-consuming but I'm trying to justify keeping as many machines as possible.  Indulge me.)  This would be an excellent candidate for that role.  

I hope you're all well.  2021 isn't much of an improvement over 2020 -- at least mine isn't; here's to a brighter 2022.  Enjoy your Fall and the upcoming holiday season.       

 

   

Kenmore 385.1695180

Excuse my Kenmore-gasm.

This is yet another of the Janome 385 Kenmores -- an earlier one from the 1980s.  The visual cues are here, from the slab front, to the stitch selection dial, the side knobs and hand wheel, the top thread guide, the presser bar lift lever that operates to the right rather than at the back, the thread tension integrated into the body of the machine, the power/light switch, etc.  Many of these elements will be tweaked and refined in the coming years but this Janome is easy to spot.

The seller is an older woman who appeared East Indian.  She was extremely nice on the phone and when I arrived to pick up the machine, her entire family was arranged in the living room, from a very old gentleman right down to the little children.  Their home was very humble but neat as a pin and everyone was quiet, exceedingly polite, and watched me with curiosity and respect.  It's possible they don't get many visitors and those that do drop by probably don't look like me.  I was humbled by how graciously they treated me and how quietly they regarded my presence in their home.  I smiled to all of them and thanked them, looking each one of them in the eye (there were probably 10 members of the family in the room).  The purchase of the sewing machine was an event of some importance, as the woman explained that she loved it but found sewing to be difficult and she wanted an easier machine; passing the machine to me seemed to be a kind of ceremony.  It was both odd and wonderful.  I will remember this transaction for many years.

If any politicians are reading this (unlikely, I know), can we please encourage more immigrants such as these fine folks?  I love these people and want them here!

The machine itself is in good shape.  Not perfect but nice.  The length control (top dial, inner ring) is very stiff and this could be what the seller was inferring by her explanation of struggling to operate the machine.  There is likely some old varnished oil causing it to be nearly impossible to turn -- nothing a couple of drops of kerosene can't handle.

Three Kenmores in two days and I may have another scheduled for the coming weekend.  My friend Janet has noticed that I'm sweeping up the Kenmores around here.  I plead guilty to that.  




 

Kenmore 385.1584180

This morning I found a CL listing for a free sewing machine and I drew in a sharp breath as I stared at the picture.  There it was in all its UV-damaged glory: the Janome-made 385 16-stitch machine I'd been thinking about with such regret.

You see, I took a trip through some depressed lumber towns recently and in one of the several thrift stores I entered, I found several sewing machines mostly in terrible states of repair.  I found this very same model and cringed, as many of its parts had been stripped by 'customers': no spool pins, no bobbin winder post, no winder stop post, no slide plate, etc.  It was dinged and scratched, yellowed and scraped.  No, I can't save them all but I'm very into these Janome/Kenmore 385s right now and I've regretted not simply putting it under my arm and walking to the cashier.

Well, this universe works things out for us and here is the same model, in much, much better condition:

I've yet to oil and run it but moving the hand wheel is extremely smooth and the machine feels as solid as its 24-stitch relative.  I really love these Janome 385 Kenmores and can't wait to get this one in tip-top shape as well as find the next one for the collection.  But I may have to sell a couple of other machines.  What a tragedy.

Kenmore 385.15512000

I was knocking around a local Goodwill recently and found another Kenmore, one of the last models that will be offered by Sears.  If you've read my blog for a while, you know that I love Kenmore machines and lately I've become fond of the 385 models (whose mostly white, mostly plastic exteriors I have hitherto shunned).  These Janome-made machines are smooth and quiet and even the lower-end models don't scream cheap; all have a quality feel to them and the stitches they produce are excellent.

I didn't want to blog about this machine until I had a chance to run it and I bought it without a power cord/foot pedal.  This is usually not a good idea; using a store's testing station is crucial in determining whether a machine is worth my time.  But this Kenmore's exterior was in pretty good shape, considering it was sitting on a shelf next to some other items with nothing protecting its tight little white hiney.

Note to self: ALWAYS make sure the power cord/pedal are present unless you're willing to pay sometimes more than the price of the machine and/or unless the machine is underpriced even w/out these necessary parts.

This time, it wasn't a bad decision.  This is a great low-end model.  As it happens, I found the appropriate cord/pedal for free and I'm happy to report the machine runs like a champ, sews beautifully, the controls all work very well, and it's got some heft and some strength.  I've seen this model on CL multiple times, so they're either very popular or hated.  I'm guessing the former.  What a great little machine:

It came with some attachments including some presser feet (buttonhole foot -- hurrah!), lint brush, 2 screwdrivers (including a tiny one for the really small screws), seam ripper, etc.  They all store neatly in the front compartment whose lid pops down.

Cosmetically, it has some small scratches and a deeper one near the reverse lever but it looks good, particularly after a cleaning and scrubbing.  I even used some polish to shine up and reduce some of the hairline scratches in the plastic.  What do you think -- is it a nice looking little machine or what?  If you saw one of these on the shelf for $12.99 (and then an extra 20% off because it's discount day), would you sweep it off the shelf into your arms, hold it like a baby, and grab the nearest oil bottle for a quick feeding?  I did!

The list of available stitches is short, as is to be expected of a low-end machine.  It does do the left-homing straight and an integrated width control within standard zig-zag and related stretch stitches.  At least it's simple and lightweight (although it's not as light as some machines I've worked on) and would be an ideal machine to take to a class or sewing group.

If you see one of these (or a similar model -- there are several) and the price is low and the condition is high, consider this a 'BUY.'

Kenmore 385.17828490

I'm in the process of selling my condo in town and so am flexing my prodigious muscles, carrying furniture, cleaning, and doing a lot of driving around.  /sarc

To treat myself, I stopped by Goodwill in a Seattle neighborhood just to see what might be waiting for me.  I found this gem of a machine with just a few nicks in the plastic and the needle clamp/thread guide missing -- very easily replaced.  I didn't even have to clean it much more than a wipe down and scrub here and there (although in the pictures, I can see I missed a couple of spots; I'll try to do better next time). 

This particular model is a 28-stitch machine, sharing many similarities with one of its 24-stitch brethren I picked up very recently.  One difference is an indicator window for suggested settings and presser feet depending upon the stitches selected -- regular, decorative, stretch, or 4-step buttonhole.

I haven't researched this at all but I'm guessing this one is somewhat later, as the back panel is plastic rather than the enameled aluminum found on the 24 and the spool pin is transverse rather than the pull-up/push-down metal variety that I prefer.  Otherwise, the machines are very much the same, especially their smooth and quiet operation and quality feel.  Janome, you make a good machine. 

It's important to make sure these vintage machines include the power cord/pedal, as replacements can cost far more than the machines themselves.  This one has its pedal and even included a carry case (with the nifty Kenmore logo) and the original manual.

The whole shebang was $14.99 and unfortunately there was no discount.  I suppose I could have negotiated a bit due to the missing needle clamp but I'm a firm believer in not pushing one's luck, particularly my own.  Is there such a thing as Luck?  I doubt it.

Kenmore Elite Ergo 3 19010

Here is yet another departure.

I love Kenmore sewing machines.  Over the decades they were manufactured/badged, Sears did a phenomenal job of quality control via choosing its manufacturers, testing their products, and listening to their customers.  The vintage all-metal machines particularly from the 1960s to the early 1980s built in Japan are some of the finest sewing machines I've ever had the pleasure of using -- especially the 158 series Jaguar/Maruzen models with multiple functions including stretch stitches and cam assemblies.

I've recently become more familiar with Kenmore machines built a little later, specifically from the mid-'80s to recent years.  (Sadly, the Kenmore name will no longer be appearing on sewing machines made by any manufacturer.)  Most of these machines are made by the Japanese giant Janome and their quality overall is very high, especially the mid- to high-priced models, full-featured, and designed with the latest sewing gadgetry.  As a vintage enthusiast, some of the plastic-clad machines strike me as dubious but Janome's Kenmore machines (twins or stand-alone models made for Sears) are very fine.

I found a simple, straightforward model several days ago, one built in the 1980s and I'm pleasantly surprised with how good it is. Here is a much newer machine, a combination sewing/embroidery machine that until recently was at the top of Kenmore's lineup and almost the top of Janome's (MC 9700):

I just got it home about an hour ago and I haven't had much time to even look at it.  I found it on CL and the seller was getting rid of it, as he bought it as a gift for his now ex-wife.

This machine has literally never been used.  It was taken out of the box and plugged in to make sure it works but it has absolutely zero hours on it.  It is utterly pristine except some slight dust near the base.  It's virtually brand new.  It was never threaded, never run.  It came with all kinds of stock equipment and bonus accessories that were part of a package deal:

I won't list all of the items but the entire sale includes the machine, digitizing software (for manipulating and designing from scratch), CF card, card reader, presser feet and other tools, three boxes of embroidery thread, pedal, manuals, dust cover, needles, and a few other things.  It's quite a package -- certainly the most complete sewing machine purchase I've ever made.  Not being an embroiderer, I'm not quite sure where to begin except to open the manuals and dive in.

It's odd how these things happen.  A few days ago at Peter Lappin's Male Pattern Boldness blog, Peter blogged about sewing labels, i.e. how they're made, what they should look like, what they should say.  He asked for ideas for his own labels and I suggested he purchase an embroidery machine so that he can make his own.  The next day I saw this for sale on CL: $200 for the entire package.  I remember shopping for my first Janome machine.  I bought it used and really enjoyed it; in my search, however, I read reviews for many Janome computerized models including the 9700, this Kenmore Ergo 3's twin machine and I lusted, wishing I could afford the then-$3500 price tag.  The price eventually came down to $3000 but I don't think they're made any longer, so 'new' models are NOS, floor models, returns, or refurbished being sold as 'new' or 'like new.'

I didn't think I'd be owning this type of machine and I'm not sure if I'll ever have a need to embroider but I'm excited to give it a try.  I've applied for membership in the Yahoo! group dedicated to this model so I expect I'll be posting some questions there.

Kenmore, Janome, embroidery, and sewing were/are all part of my conscious and/or subconscious mind.  Did I immediately key into the CL listing because my subconscious triggered an immediate response to my eyes glancing past the ad?  Or is there perhaps a more mysterious, spiritual dimension at work?  That I would have been looking at this type of machine about 2.5 years ago and suggested such a machine a few days ago, then finding one in this kind of condition at this price is kind of staggering.  I'm not sure what it all means.

Kenmore 385.1764180

Here's a bit of a departure.

Walking around a thrift store today, I swore to myself I wouldn't buy anything I don't need.  I'm house-shopping and trying to off-load a bunch of stuff, not add to it.  However, I did spy a Kenmore electronic sewing machine from the 1980s in a tall Kenmore case that fits some of the convertible machines I own for which I don't have cases.

I'm always on the lookout for sewing machine carry cases.  They're often expensive, meaning I can easily pay $25 for an old plastic hard shell case (sometimes less, sometimes more).  I usually wait to find machines + cases for about $10 and get rid of the machine, as I planned to do with this Kenmore I found today.  The case is one of the tall ones that are a little more rare than the standard flat bed cases you see everywhere (except when you need one on the shelf of a thrift store).  My 158.1913 needs this very case so I was very happy to find this one.

I considered donating the machine right back to the store.  I'm glad I didn't.  This is a Janome-made Kenmore and is incredibly smooth and quiet.  The front of the machine is plastic; the back and arm (free arm, once you remove the plastic storage compartment in front of the feed dogs) is enameled aluminum, so it's a rather strong frame.  When plugging it in at the testing station in the store, it ran like a top.  It's fast and there is very, very little vibration.  When I say this thing is quiet, it's not much more than a purr -- a very pleasant sound.  I've only sewed cotton with it thus far (light and heavier) and it's got some power, too.  Speed, power, smoothness, quietness, and excellent stitch quality -- not much more you could ask from a thrift store machine.  It's in great shape, too:

This particular series of machines was available in various stitch configurations: I've seen 8, 10, 12, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 36, and I believe a 100 that was an early computerized model.  The design is simple and handsome, very straightforward, and easy to operate.  A four-step buttonhole function is built-in in addition to the simple, stretch, and decorative stitches.  I had another Janome that I really liked but it sat around without much use, so I sold it and bought two industrial machines.  This one is several steps down but sews like a champ; the hook/race design of the two machines are actually nearly identical.

I'm a fan of powerful vintage machines, preferably all-metal, preferably industrial.  However, there is so much to like about this basic machine that I'm really glad I have it and I plan to make use of it.  If you see one, consider this an enthusiastic recommendation, especially if the price is similar to what I paid: $9.99.

Correction: It appears these machines (with the orange stitch number on the face plate) were built in the early to mid-'90s, not the '80s.
     

Janome 6500P