Elna Supermatic

I feel your pain....

Oh, dear! Maybe you could find a local Senior Center in desperate need of a good machine? Or a young neighbor who want to learn but has no equipment? A quilting group? Your local school? SOMEONE???

The only other problem I saw with this machine is how to remove the bobbin. The manual (yes, it is there) says to use the special tool, but no tools were available. If I wanted it, I would do some serious research on it, but, as it is.....................................

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

The little tool thing is nice but not strictly necessary. On one of my Elnas I just use the Mk I Thumbnail.

The tool is built onto the machine. A springy deal behind the presser foot pulls down and fits in the hole in the bobbin.

Aha! It pays to ask. The only other problem was how to lift up the cover plate. My trusty thumbnail wouldn't move it, so I figured I might need a screwdriver or some other tool to lever it up.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

That just rocks (tilts) up it does not slide like on most. Inside up.

Thanks, Ron. Now, I am going to have to stop by the thrift store on my rounds today, and see if it is still there. (Still not going to buy it

- I Think.)

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

I lucked out and picked up an elna at Salvation Army for $50.00 some months ago. I love it. I'm using it more than any other machine. It came with lots of bobbins, spools of thread and other sewing supplies in the cabinet. In order to get it in the house and up the stairs, I took the machine out of the case, took the drawers out and took out the spool storage section in the back. If you do this, it should minimize the number of helpers you will need.

--Betsy

Ron, we just love it when you talk that tech-talk that you do so well. ;-)

Thank you. Love to do it. The opportunities are diminishing here as the years go by. 10-15 years ago I was a busy boy.

It seems to be cyclical, and there may be a renaissance in the offing. I am noticing more magazines on the racks, more TV shows, more blogs dealing with home sewing and quiltmaking. I hope it increases your business. I also notice that more people seem to be interested in the older, mechanical machines or newer equivalents. Like our computers, the new computer-driven machines don't hold up as well, and don't lend themselves to repairs when the parts are obsolete. Or never were available to begin with.

I was referring just to the traffic on the news group. Years ago it seems like there were more people and a lot more new people coming by. While business is slow it is not all that bad. More, I think, a function of the Economy than a lack of interest.

Ahh, the newsgroups, Usenet, is being driven out of existence by strange laws and internet providers deciding to drop the news readers from from their service. Most of us now get our news groups through specialized services which is easy enough to do, but which has scared off many, if not most, of the people who used to be here. Look how many who are here are using Google, thinking that these are "groups." Meanwhile, Yahoo groups are growing and people are turning there, where there is moderation. Take a look at the Yahoo groups for various kinds of sewing. There are many!

Yes I am aware of Yahoo groups. I just do not have the time to visit a thousand groups, one for every imaginable thing. Signed on to the We fix it deal but so unorganized and well everyone is an authority and way to much off topic stuff.

Nice machine! My condolences on your loss. :)

So I bought it!! It is my "lollipop".

Last week I lost a crown off a tooth. No pain, so the dentist said to come in Tuesday. Got there, sat down, he looked at it and said "Uh-oh!". Oh dear. Apparently the root itself had cracked, way down in the jawbone. So, lots of anasthetic shots in the cheek and the jaw, then about an hour with the dental equivalent of jackhammer, prybar and hammer and chisel, he got all of it out, put in stitches, and sent me off with a prescription for powerful pain pills and instructions to call if I had further problems. I think the prybar part was the worst, after the shots, that is. Getting the bar behind a piece of tooth, then rocking back and forth to try to loosen it. Aaaaagh. No pain at the time, just pressure, but Hooboy did I suffer later. Wednesday was our day to go to the primary care doctor - the one who holds the reins and coordnatres everything, and on the way home I asked dh to stop by the thrift store. Mind you, I was still in agony.

At first, I thought it had been sold, it wasn't where it had been. However, wandering around the store I found it, moved to a different spot. Still labelled $299.95, crossed out, then $199.95, crossed out then $74.95. I told them the going price for an old sewing machine was $40, so the manager said I coud have it for $50. I bought it. That is my "lollipop" for being a good girl at the dentist. I'll tell you all about the machine itself in a different post, as this is already way too long.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Olwyn.Mary wrote: Aaaaagh. No pain at the time, just pressure, but

Aaaauuugh! ((((Olwyn Mary)))) I

Yay! No one could possibly object to your having a nice reward for enduring the prybar. Have fun with it. As I recall getting it to your sewing room was an issue, I hope you are able to resolve that.

Same from me!

Himself has got me one of my all-time favourite cook books as a little prezzie for nothing much. It's been out of print for years. Every now and again, a lollipop takes the pain away!