Riches beyond the dreams of mere mortals! - Page 2

> After many years of HARD usage my Bernina 730 just plain wore-out but
> I got another for free so I was ok. Now the second one is worn-out (as
> in Game over man!) but my repairman was able to put together one
> functioning machine from the 2 and I'll pick-up both tomorrow when my
> friend with a car can give me a lift there and back.
>
> Anyway, I now have duplicates of the accessories such as the extension
> table if you are interested! Just mail me at arkiv2001[at]gmail.com
> and maybe we can make some type of trade, say a package of fabric
> scraps for a package of sewing machine bits.
>
> Erin

> I've posted this elsewhere, so you lot might as well also know just how
> daft I can be...
>
> A Live Journal friend who works in London said she was having to toss a
> pile of sewing machines in a skip from work, and would I like a few to
> see if I could get them working. Might be some sort of a Cub in there
> and some pre-historic Berninas...
>
> Stupid question, really. I said Yes, natch...
>
> She filled the car. There were THIRTEEN! Eep! Himself was somewhat put
> out... She had a horrid journey down from Hackney to Kent, where she met
> up with another pal, and we supped on white wine, chicken and chickpea
> tagine, and fruit flan... After unloading a dozen sewing machines (she
> kept one for a friend), stray feet, umbilical cords and so forth from
> the car. We parked them in the conservatory.
>
> On Saturday Morning, having woken with a jump at 7:00am, I did a quick
> triage of the machines. The result of this was:
>
> One Viking Husqvarna something-or-other (late 70's model) with too much
> missing to be worth fixing, given that it was seized solid. Great shame
> - it should have been a wonderful machine.
>
> One Jones Type 15 rip-off: ugly grey, rotten belt and broken case. Not
> worth fixing as there are millions about and it has limited apeal for
> re-homing... I scavenged the bobbin case for another machine.
>
> One pair of mid 90's Jones labelled Brother plastic entry level
> machines. Ropey stitch quality, bits boxes and all bits missing. Not
> worth fixing to pass on, given their quality. Couldn't find a
> replacement bits box anyway...
>
> These four were put on one side for the tip run on Sunday. Poor things
> were just not worth the time and effort as they would never be complete.
>
> One plastic almost new Brother machine: entry level, but decent stitch
> quality for the price bracket. No bobbin case (type 15, so easy and
> cheap to replace) and no bits box contents. No manual - but I downloaded
> a free one, so that's OK... No spare feet, but does have the general
> purpose one. Will take generic feet. Saved to pass on.
>
> One plastic Toyota, of a similar type to the Brother. Missing bits box
> and contents, and the spool pin (one of those idiotic plastic things you
> take off and put in the bits box to pack away, rather than the nifty
> shove down into the machine type... ), but both no problem to replace.
> Again, missing type 15 bobbin case, and no manual... Saved for pricing
> up the missing bits, and to pass on...
>
> After looking up the prices of bobbin cases, I rang Helen Howes, and she
> has a couple of spare type 15 bobbin cases that need a bit of polishing,
> so I shall do them up for these machines. They'll be fine, given the
> limited life of such things.
>
> One Frister & Rossman Cub Four in perfect working order. Missing the
> bobbin case (another type 15!: gave it the one scavanged from the
> Jones), and no bits box contents. No manual. Again, no problem, as I
> have another with all the feet and stuff, and the manual. This is a
> charmer, and worth all the bother of sorting through the machines on its
> own. I shall keep this one for the kids. It's a great model for kids to
> learn on: solid as a rock, impeccable manners, lovely stitch quality,
> several nice stitches, and small, so easy for smaller kids (some of the
> year five kids are minute!). Like my other one, the plastic has
> discoloured badly, but this has no impact on the working of the machine.
> It looks lightly used and feels great.
>
> Two Bernina 807's... Standard late 70's school issue. Red plastic cases,
> should have an extension table, usually bought for schools with only one
> foot. Schools tended to buy a dozen or so machines but only a couple of
> sets of feet, as most dressmaking classes in those days used only
> straight stitch, a bit of zigzag neatening, and the zip foot... Hems and
> any fancy finishing was hand done (well, until the teacher's back was
> turned and I read the manual! Then I showed her I could do all the fancy
> stuff, and knew how to play with the ruffler and such... Um...). Feet
> for these are still available as they are the same fitting and variety
> as are used with the brand new 1008's. They both had their foot controls
> and decent cables, and bobbin cases. One had the correct extension
> table, but one had a 707 table in with it. Shame, as it doesn't quite
> fit! My long time pal and mother of my goddaughter took the complete one
> home with her after I cleaned and oiled the innards and cleaned up the
> machine head and the case. I sent it home to her younger daughter Rozi
> with a set of screwdrivers and oil, new needles, a pair of long tweezers
> for digging fluff and gunk out of it, and a cleaning brush. If she takes
> to sewing and likes the machine, I'll send zip foot and a couple of
> others for Christmas... I downloaded and printed off the manual for her.
> The important thing about the manual is it shows how to take the covers
> off for cleaning and oiling. The other needs an extension table. If my
> LJ pal can find it at work, all well and good. If not, I'll try to shake
> a pre-loved one out of my contacts...
>
> Three Bernina 707's... Classic puke green jobs! All three had extension
> tables, power cables, a bobbin case and a foot, and work perfectly. The
> machines show signes of 40+ years of wear and being dragged from pillar
> to post, but being tough old birds, they have survied. No sets of feet,
> and one of the plastic cases is missing the handle and has some breaking
> up on the hinges of the case, but it is otherwise in fine fettle. One
> comes in the old late 50's suitcase style case, in need of some minor
> repair... No telling which one at this point, as all five Berninas were
> in random cases with random extension tables! And there was a manual! It
> shows the suitcase style case in the pix, but will do for all three. I'm
> in the throws of scanning that so I can send them out with a manual when
> they get rehomed...
>
> Riches beyond the dreams of average, at least! If that extension table
> doesn't show up, I will see what it costs to replace. If I can get one
> for under a tenner, I'll do that so it can be passed on whole.
>
> So, currently we are up to 28 machines in the house and one cross Alan!
> OOPS!
>
> The Cub 4 will stay. The Brother and Toyota each need a couple of cheap
> parts and will then easily find homes with kids.
>
> The Berninas will take longer as they are cosmetically challenged, but
> fab to use. I'm hoping to pass them on to students. I've just seen one
> on offer at one of my parts and accessories suppliers for £175!