Necchi BU Mira No. 2

Sometimes a seller knows just how good the machine s/he is selling happens to be.  The guy selling this machine is well aware of Necchi's legendary engineering, tight biases and screw threading, beautiful stitching, and all else.  But he wanted it gone and I was able to buy yet another BU Mira for a mere $50 in an original Necchi cabinet (needs refinishing) and it runs.  Perfectly.

I love this machine.  Were I forced to jettison every machine save one (man, that would suck), I might choose the BU Mira just because there are few machines which do everything really, really well.  Many of my Kenmores are contenders on the basis of sheer competence and ease of use but they don't have quite the smoothness nor the panache nor the physical beauty of one of Necchi's finest models.

I love the way it sews, it sounds, it looks -- it's easy to operate, the stitch limiters work so beautifully, the tension assembly is so refined that I can choose from an almost infinite number of settings, ditto the pressure knob.  The oil ports have bearings to prevent dust, the motor has two speeds...and the Wonder Wheel is unique and very Italian.  (In the interest of full disclosure, this machine is missing the WW rods and the tire is the usual crumbled mess that needs immediate replacement with the O-ring kit workaround.)

I will never pass up a BU Mira for $50 or less.  I can't -- not one in this condition.  Do try to find one, as they're just so choice.