Exercising Self Control *was* Bernina 830 vs Elna 500

No but have a ball with it. Juno

Actually, you've got yourself a Janome in Sears clothing... the digits ahead of the decimal tell you the machine's maker (Janome in this case) and the first four or fivebehind are the model, so you've got a Kenmore 15512.

If you want to see what you got before it gets to you:

OR It's a 13.5 lb mechanical with a 4 step buttonhole. I'd say you got yourself a nice class machine there.

Enjoy!

Oh yes... parts;

OR

Kay

It's made by Janome so accessories are easy to obtain. I don't know if it's a top-loading or front-loading bobbin type. If you insert the bobbin from the top, you might want to use plastic bobbins.

gwh

Thanks for the tips, guys. Now all I have to do is wait it out. I bought it "as is" with no *obvious* problems, so if all it needs is a little TLC and some oil, it will have been a good buy.

thanks again

Alex

Depends...how much is the shipping? The iffy thing about buying via eBay esp. from folks who don't usually sell sewing machines is hopefully the seller will know how to pack it so it arrives in one piece (instead of many).

I do hope it does, and that you have many years of enjoyment with it!

-Irene

Forgot to mention:

Had my hair cut today. Found out, talking about my impulse buy, that she (hair stylist) was just getting starting in quilting. (!!) She's been cutting my hair for 32 years! She just had to drag out a ziplock of quilting squares for a project (for a new grandkid), based on "I spy, with my little eye...". each square had a different motif. Some were hot dogs, some were pickle chips, one was sock monkeys, another was muffins with frosting and chocolate sprinkles, one was puppies, and so on. These were 5 inch squares, and she doesn't even own a machine yet! I gave her such encouragement as I could, not being into quilting. I bragged on the Sistine chapel, and the Long Dog sampler.. (Cathy, KY/CA project). We now have a new topic for discussion.

My $60 is *well* spent.

Alex, spreading the word!

And chances are, with an almost new machine, that it still has the original box for shipping... I have Lily's box, the 'retired' Huskylock is in it's original box, and I have the box and all the packing for both sergers...

If not, direct the sender to this:

While primarily aimed at packing vintage machines, what it says holds true for all machines that have lost their original packing.

Thanks for the tup (did I say that?) Read: TIP (American English). The original pkgng has been lost but I passed on your advice and URL, which seems to be pretty comprehensive.

I appreciate your help, Kate. Maybe sometime you'll tell us (re: that pic of your sewing area of the red dress), where the pic has a Singer in the foreground, and a serger to the left, what is the SM in the upper right? I can't make it a Viking....

Alex

Well the little Kenmore/Janome arrived yesterday. Appears as expected, with needle bent. The hand-wheel on the right side turns with difficulty, as if the lube has gunked up. Will take it to the S/M Dr. for a physical and tune up tomorrow. Seems like a decent entry-level machine, with few frills, but seems all mechanical rather than computerized. Definitely not in the same class as the Bernina Record

930, tho.

Alex

That could be a winner then! Nice score!

End of story.

The unit was cosmetically OK, but came with a power/foot control cord that was jerry rigged from another S/M. Shuttle/bobbin case and hook were absent. No foot. Main mechanism gummed up.

Caviat emptor. Not worth the repair cost. I bet, I lost.

Alex

So sad!!! But, as my DFIL used to tell the kids, you "learned a valuable lesson...". :-(

It still has a place in my home, tho. As a doorstop!

Alex

You may be able to salvage bits for another fixer-upper project.

The thought crossed my mind. I expect to complete my income tax paperwork today, and this weekend I'm going to take a page from my childhood years and take that puppy apart to see what makes her tick.

Dissecting the machine should provide a lot of information on how they are designed, or mis-designed. Who knows? I might run across another Kenmore/Janome of this type and do a bit ot cannibalization.

Alex

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Life is uncertain.....eat dessert first!

Take thyself over to the yahoo group "wefixit" and check some of the files and discussions on degumming old machines. Play with it a bit. Dissect it. Turn it into a frankenstitcher or part it out.