Bernina 117L

The universe has smiled upon me.

When browsing CL, I often widen my searches to include areas I wouldn't normally visit just to see what's out there.  To be honest, most machines are just not worth driving great distances.  However, I had been watching a listing for a Bernina sewing machine for about a year.  It was originally listed at $500.  After about two months, the price descended to $400, then $300 some time after that.  It stayed at that price; not surprisingly, the price's descent had an inverse relationship with my interest.  Then the listing disappeared and I assumed it sold.  A very old Bernina is a very rare machine in these parts and they don't stay listed long at all.  Ask me how I know.

I happened to be browsing just two months ago prior to Christmas and there it was again, an ad for a Bernina treadle machine.  Only this time, there was more information.  It's a 117L, a model I don't own (I have a 117K that I acquired almost by complete accident) and is extremely hard to find.  The price was $200.  I contacted the seller immediately and told her that I doubted I could make it over the mountain pass right away, that I would have to wait for somewhat warmer weather.  (The passes were experiencing a deluge of snow and thick ice on the roads.  Washington Dept. of Transportation was advising no travel over the passes if it wasn't necessary.  This was certainly necessary but not worth risking my life.)  She responded -- very nicely -- that she couldn't hold it, that she wanted to sell it.  I wrote back that I understood.  I sobbed uncontrollably.  (Not really, but I was sad.)

The ad disappeared again.  I suspected it might appear again and sure enough, about a week ago it reappeared at $150.  I called her and made plans to visit her the next day.  She was surprised I was so intent on purchasing it but she was glad I was interested enough to make the trip.  She lives in a part of Washington that is remote and the road one mile beyond her house is dirt.  Her driveway is dirt.  And the machine was being stored in an unheated shed.

She was very, very nice and apologized for all the snow and ice on the driveway, for her dog excitedly jumping on me (I love when dogs jump on me), and she offered the machine for $100.  I accepted, put the machine in my car, fell flat on my ass, and chatted with her for about 30 minutes.  What a lovely person.  She's the kind of woman I'd love as a neighbor.

So after a total of 5.5 hours of driving and about 4 hours of cleaning, here it is -- the one I've been waiting for:

As you can see, this is set up for treadling.  However, the motor (and brace -- not pictured), a Swiss Scintilla made for Bernina, was included and so I can change the configuration if I choose.  The table's a Bernina table and it obviously needs refinishing but the machine's in remarkable condition considering that it was shipped to the Pacific Northwest from Switzerland via a farm in Ukraine.  Here in remote Washington State it was used on an orchard, so it was very dirty but it cleaned up rather nicely, I think.  The brightwork is very shiny, all the parts work perfectly (if a little tight with old oil), and the sewing action is about as quiet and smooth as I could ever want.  This is such a great machine.  It has lots of oil ports.  Lots.

The 117L was made beginning in 1938 and this is a fairly early one.  One of the first domestic zig-zag machines ever produced, it is surprisingly modern: pressure control knob, feed dog drop, huge throws in the length and width control, automatic bobbin winding, knee lift (this is a very cool feature allowing the user to keep both their hands on their project), and a very sensitive, incremented tension control.  Needle position (L, C, R) is a feature my 117K doesn't include and works like a charm.  I haven't hooked up the motor so I can't comment on the electrical feature (motor, light).  It's a friction drive, so it will be interesting to see how the 117L runs compared to the 117K which is set up for electric sewing (though if I do decide to try out this motor, I hope its voltage is commensurate with American domestic electrical standards).  The maximum SPM for this machine is reputedly over 2K.

So there it is, my exciting treadle story.  I'm not a treadler so this will take some getting used to but I think I'll leave the machine as-is, grateful though I am for the original motor.  

Elna Supermatic

A watershed in sewing machine innovation, the Elna Supermatic is a core component of any collection.  I've owned this machine for just a few days and despite two issues that are eminently fixable, this Supermatic has won a place of honor in my house.

This is an example of the two-toned models that were several years later than the all-green Supermatic -- the Elna 2 -- that followed the Grasshopper model, the Elna 1.  Despite its obvious vintage look and appeal, it's quite a modern machine in that it takes single- and double-layered cams in a clever mechanism whereupon the following arms adjust for both length and width, a remarkable innovation in the 1950s.  There is no food pedal; rather, the machine is operated via knee bar and the light switch is not an interlock, allowing for operation without the use of the built-in light.

The bobbin/needle area is interesting.  There is no bobbin case for the drop-in design: just drop it in under the door behind the needle, threading upwards to the needle.  A low shank design, feet and other attachments are easily and inexpensively found.  Feed dogs surround the needle area, so the feed is unusually steady.

The tension dial is above and slightly left of the needle area, as the thread path is from behind.  Not only does the 1 - 9 dial offer a lot of variation in tension, the discs are large so that surface area provides superior tension control on all types of threads.

There are controls for needle position, width, length, etc. and an Automatic setting for buttonhole sewing.  My machine has two issues: the small knob on the end of the width lever has snapped off and the seller kept the knob; also, the needle clamp is hitting the edge of the nose plate door in the widest zig-zag setting.  The first problem involves repairing with the old knob or finding a replacement part -- easy.  I haven't figure out what is causing the second issue.  It doesn't appear to be timing but rather an alignment adjustment.  I'm guessing the home position of the needle bar has vibrated out of alignment over the years and a screw needs tightening.

The machine runs like a top.  It was extremely dirty but I've mostly cleaned in up on the outside and am in the process of getting the insides in better shape.  The smoothness and low humming sound it makes is such a pleasure, particularly at the speeds it achieves.  (Rotary hook, natch.)

I love this machine and am looking forward to adding more Supermatics to the collection.
 

Elna 3 Flat Bed Straight Stitch

I'd like you to meet Smellna, a recent arrival.

This machine wafted into my life, my heart, and my nostrils -- not in that order -- after a long trip in a driving rain storm.  (The rain was driven and I was driving.)  Although not far for a sewing machine, the trip was arduous and thus all the more lengthy.  Ghost Riders on the Storm was perhaps my metaphysical soundtrack that day as I met not only the Man With No Name but the Seller With No Clue.  He was friendly but the hopes of what was to be a 4-machine sale were quickly dashed -- only one machine included the power cord and pedal despite the ad's assurance that all of these machines 'power up and run.'  Ah, well.  My Husqvarna Viking ship will sail into my harbor another day.

Undeterred, he proudly pulled a beat Emdeko case out of his car and placed it on the trunk, rain still pouring.  (I'm soaked right down to my underwear at this point and yes, I was wearing a coat.)  Uncovering a machine whose fragrance no rain or outdoor air could possibly mitigate, raindrops formed rivulets into all port and openings, watering the case's crop of mildew to a bloom I could barely stand on the way home.  I bought it partly out of not wanting to come home empty-handed and partly because the machine intrigued me.  It still does.

The seller purchased it at a Washington State surplus dealer.  Though I'm not certain, this machine was possibly among a fleet of machines used in home economics courses taught in various education institutions (likely discontinued in favor of more useful skills such as analysis of rap lyrics).   

Collectors, take note: this is potentially quite the treasure trove if one knows where to buy.   

That my state's educators would choose such a machine slightly raises my rather low expectations of them: a student being exposed to a useful skill utilizing a tool chosen for its quality and longevity rather than price or insider contract on the public dime?  Be still my olfactory.  (Yes, Smellna stinks.)

The machine is a straight stitch only with reverse and is capable of sewing with a double needle.  With a friction drive rather than via belt or gear from the motor (although a cleated nylon belt connects both the lower and upper drive shafts, thus controlling the hook), this model is essentially a glorified rotary.  True to Elna engineering, it's fast and powerful.  Unfortunately, a friction pulley flattens as does a tire, causing a clunking or whining or pounding or any of the above and Smellna is likely the noisiest domestic machine I've ever run.  

I managed to extract the leftmost spool pin from the cover, as it was rusted/grimed into its Down position.  This took one day of kerosene drops at regular intervals, then pliers over a silicone hot pad and muscle, turning slightly, then pulling straight out.  I polished with Maas and it's now smooth.  

Other issues:

• Needs rewiring from the plug to pedal.  I plugged it in to run it but not for long as this is really not safe.  I'm out of 18g so off to the big box I go.
• Bobbin plate has a loose screw.  (Don't we all?)  Fixing requires unscrewing the entire lower casing -- something I haven't had time to do.  
• Bobbin winder is inoperable.  It has a few parts missing and I'm not certain what they are.  One is a spring.
• I need to pull the motor and clean the brushes of carbon, polish the commutator, and test for SPM.  It's a fast machine but I sense it's not at top speed.

Despite the reek and the questionable provenance, I like this machine very much.  A prime candidate for finishing school, Smellna has a simple charm and power all its own.  Time is all we need.  For just $10, this experience has been a silver lining. 

Bernina 730 Record

Another "Get in the car, we're leaving now!" machine, this 730 in really fantastic condition awaited me just 20 mins. from home.  The seller was selling for a friend and knew nothing, thus the $60 price and the swiftness and pleasantness of the transaction.  The detached seller is a true gift.

From the same era as my 640-2-11, the 730 has a funky Volkswagen Bus vibe, what with its rounded squareness, WWII nostalgia color scheme of beige and olive drab (despite supposed Swiss neutrality), and its utilitarian, no-nonsense controls.  It's a charming design, rather like the unfortunate cousin who actually manages to look pretty if you squint from just the right angle.  While it may not look especially large in pictures, it's actually a full-sized machine: tall, slightly narrow in depth but wide.  Harp space is generous and the light points directly to the needle area.

Controls for width, length, and an interesting 4-position needle bar control (L, L/C, C, R) are fairly obvious as are feed dog, stitch selection (zig-zag through decorative is 0 - 20 -- Bernina numeration begins with zero) and the right lever enables the following arm across the cam stack.  Tension is controlled via dial and small indicator window near the top thread trough.  An especially interesting feature is the stitch formation indicator, telling the user at what point in the stitch the machine is sewing.  This enables perfectly linking various patterns without guessing, as a new portion of a pattern (such as a new diamond in a diamond pattern) begins when the indicator is perfectly centered on the line in the window.  Mechanical and very clever.  A built-in buttonhole function means that together with the width lever, a buttonhole of any length can be sewn in one step providing the width lever is switched at the appropriate steps while sewing.

Everything is present except a knee lever and the case.  The stair-like storage bin includes a fair number of original Bernina presser feet and original bobbins.  (The 730 takes class 15.)  The extension bed is inserted and withdrawn easily and without damaging the free arm.  The motor is not especially powerful at .84 amp but the inclusion of a speed override to allow for slow, precise sewing is a nice touch.  It works flawlessly.  Bobbin winding is hidden under its own top right door.

It's easy to see (and feel and hear) why Berninas of this era are so highly valued.  This machine runs really beautifully: smooth, quiet, and makes perfect stitches.  It's almost as good as a Kenmore.
  

Elna SU 62C No. 2

I spotted another Elna SU on CL last night without a price. Intrigued, I contacted the seller and he responded that he thought $40 was fair. I agreed and this morning I met him (great guy -- a fisherman who had no idea how to operate the machine) and I tried it out. It works beautifully. These are some really nice stitches and the machine is quiet and smooth, just like my first Elna SU that still needs a hook pinion gear replacement.

I really like this machine. However, with its plastic parts, it's prone to breakage and so I only recommend it with qualification: 1) if it's cheap; 2) if it's in good condition; 3) if you don't mind getting under the hood; 4) if you need a lighter weight free arm machine. This would be a great machine for sewing lightweight wovens, particularly sleeves, cuffs, collars, etc. The straight stitch is impressive for a zig-zag machine and the built-in patterns as well as the cam patterns are very attractive. But a Kenmore, this ain't. It just isn't reliable/durable and powerful enough for me; that the feed dogs can't be dropped and the pressure can't be adjusted are two more demerits.  It's a shame, as it's otherwise a smooth, quiet, superlative sewing machine.

Bernina 640-2-11 Semi-Industrial

Oh, what a day.

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!
  

Elna SU 62C

I found my first Elna at a thrift store.  It runs, but doesn't yet sew.  The hook and bobbin aren't moving, though they don't appear frozen.  So something isn't connected.

This is one of those borderline machines where I suspect I might be purchasing trouble.  Unless I'm a complete bonehead and don't understand the ins and outs of Elna-ese (I don't have a manual), this may be hard to fix.  Other than that, it's obviously a quality machine -- all-metal except for one part I found underneath the lid (a gear whose function I haven't yet figured out, as I've owned the machine all of 2 hours).

It looks OK for a thrift store machine that was sitting on a shelf w/out the protection of a case.  Included was a box with cams, some thread and bobbins (no feet, though), a small screwdriver that is bent to the point of useless, and I assume this box slides under the free arm.  The pedal was also included, thankfully.

Upon powering it up, the light worked and the machine ran slowly.  It gradually picked up speed and the needle bar moves smoothly, quietly, and quickly.  I've seen these machines in pictures, blogs, etc. and have never been attracted to the design, probably because it looked like a simple zig-zag machine.  However, this particular model has a cam stack for several built-in stitches and takes cams for extra decorative sewing.  The bobbin area is accessed via the back of the arm, oddly.

Hopefully I can get this thing sewing. 

Bernina 117K

I finally found one.  Here it is: