Weird... I keep hearing this now and again with HV's in the USA, but it's almost unheard of here. Wilf has never had to replace one, and mine was a different problem. The Tunbridge Wells shop has never replaced one either. I've sewn through huge wodges of stuff with mine, crashed into numerous pins, and recently sewed right through a safety pin - twice! - without doing any damage or even denting the timing. Bent the point of the needle, but nothing else! My feed dogs were timed and adjusted because Wilf took them out to make sure there were no hidden problems behind them rather than because there was a problem with them. Despite the very heavy use I give mine, there was no sign of wear in the bobbin assembly either. I've lugged it all over the country for teaching, attending classes, and on holiday too, and nothing seems to faze it!
I'm beginning to wonder if this might have something to do with the way they are set up to cope with 110v electricity in the USA: here we're on
240v. I wouldn't have thought so, but it's all I can think of that might be different!
Don't think so as the Singers, Bernies and Pfaffs I have re-motored do not have these problems. Pfaff has had a switch for many years. It just seems like in the last 15 years the quality of the Husqvarna machines has declined since they started to job out the parts. Many of the machines in the same range as the Lily are assembled in Eastern Europe and just do not seem to have the same staying power. Now VSM is doing the same to the Pfaff machines and they are also failing on a regular basis. Only the TOL of both lines are assembled in Sweden with parts from all over. Juki is making most of the Singers and the Bernies, well they are still pretty good machines even if the parts are jobbed out Bernina seems to demand a higher standard. Lately, last 3 years, I have been involved with Janomes. Really good machines, none that I have sold have been back for anything and my supplier has been selling them for 6 years with the same results. Janome makes all the lower lines for both VSM and Pfaff adn most other manufacturers.
Well, as the proud owner of an older model Bernina, a three year old Pfaff, and a new Janome 6500, I have to say that the Janome beats the other two on buttonholes - no contest. I have no experience with Viking machines.
Singer is bringing out a new Futura sewing/embroidery machine that has no on-board computer - it runs off a PC much like the POEM/Singer EU did. I wondered if it is the promised new machine from Aisin. Do you happen to know?
Which Aisin there are three. Aisin is like the word "corporation" here. Thre are actually 2 Futura's one with Digitizing and one without. Both seem to be really neat machines and fit in to the slot left open by VSM. I think you will see more stand alone embroidery machines soon also. While the Futura's do have some regular sewing I think the lack of computer on board is a good step. The shape reminds me of the old Kenmore Sensor Sews.
Congrats on the Janome 6500 one of the best machines I have seen in years and so very very quiet. .
Didn't know there were 3 Aisin's in the stitching business. The one I mean is the one that makes the Toyota commercial machines, and made the POEM/Singer EU, which they stopped producing, saying there was a new machine coming out this year. Since the Futura won't be available until this summer, I made the leap - which may not be valid.
I have pre-ordered a Singer XL-6000. Hoping that it is a good move. The pre-order price is $3500 and includes the continuous hoop.
Juki is makeing these for Singer and they have a good track record. All of the XL have been innovative and real TOL machines. The use of such cutting edge tecnology has really been a boost to Singer. So much for VSM saving Pfaff, Singer did it all by themselves. Pfaff is having an awful time under VSM management. The last 2 original machines they produced for Pfaff were terribly problematic. I won't even sell the 2054 and still not entirely comfortable with the 2144. Waiting to see how their new embroidery one the 2124 with ATA capability works out. Still partial to the Janome 300e stand alone, especially as they decided to leave the software choice up to the customer. Janome has the lowest markup in the business.
I notice most of you are recommending Singers not Berninas. I dont have a lot of experience with this, but the 3 Singers I've used were all not much cop, but the bananas have all been excellant. Is it a case of picking your Singer models with care? Why Singer and not Bernina?
How new were these Singers you have used? Ever use one that was about 1960 vintage? You will see a difference. Old Singers were among the best and, due to there being so many of them made, are easily obtainable today. Singer went to crap in recent years but the old ones were great.
Berninas are excellent machines, except for the new low-end models that are called Bernette or something else and are "built by the cheapest bidder" machines.
But I think in this case the reason we aren't recommending Berninas, Vikings, or Pfaffs is that we were talking about older vintage Singers, the '65 Mustangs of the sewing machine world that were built to last forever, as falling within the budget of the original poster.
After about 1964 (my personal cut-off date), Singer went down hill fast. By the 70's, most of their machines were cheap badged items which went wrong way too easily. They managed to ride on their old reputation for a good while, but eventually folk got wise. Older Singers that have been well looked after are wonderful machines, but their later period ones are basically junk, with the occasional error on their part meaning that just now and again they produced a good one! These are scarcer than dodo teeth. Recently (in the last couple of years) they have bought in some better stuff, but it's hard to track the good models down at times. You'd be looking at their higher end embroidery machines, from what I've seen.
The thing is, with older Singers, there are a lot of them about... People sell them all the time. Older Berninas and Viking/Husqvarna machine DO exist, but folk love them and hang on to them. Same with Necchi: if you have one of the same vintage as the classic early 60's Singers, you hang on to it and keep it going as long as you can. Singers were made in FAAAAAAR greater quantities, and the same models were built in the USA, Canada, Germany, Russia, India, Scotland... So parts are available world wide. In fact, there are little factories in the Far East that still make parts for some truly ancient treadle models of Singer because they were so ubiquitous, and in places were electrons are elusive, they are still used regularly. For example, Singer 15 parts are easy to come by if you look in the right places, because they were a heavy domestic/light industrial type machine, ideal for tailors and sweatshops in back streets from India to China. My 15-88 Treadle model (made in Canada in the 30's) - it also came as a hand crank portable, a hand crank in a table, and, for the wealthy, with an electric motor, either portable or in a cabinet - was made for several decades in all corners of the world, and parts and accessories are relatively easy to find. The same can be said for my Singer 66: mine was made in Scotland in 1923, but they were still making them in the
50's. Those old cast metal body Singers are very hard to beat and extremely hard to kill. Even those that look like boat anchors can sometimes be made to sew again. Can the same be said of the 1977 Singer I got as a 21st birthday present from my parents? No: unfortunately it was a lemon from day one, and I part exchanged it for my Frister & Rossman Cub 8 in 1982. The Singer was hardly used, but the Cub 8 was a lovely machine, but is dead: the motor died and cannot be replaced. I used it to death. The hand crank Singer goes on...
Occasionally you will see an older Bernina or Necchi for sale: snap it up! BUT!!! Make certain that it has all it's accessories, foot pedal, whatever, because THOSE are the bits that wander off and render the machine unusable! They are far harder to come by for other makes than they are for Singers. Singer was an amazing company with an amazing concept (did you know they started the idea of paying in instalments?), and a VERY good product, but they lost the plot along the line, and have yet to get it back fully. They do not YET sell a machine I am interested in, but I do keep my eyes open.
For some fun stuff, take a look at my old Singers on my web site. I own the treadle and the hand crank, and the little gold beauty belongs to my next door neighbour. I have made stuff on the treadle: some Christmas stockings and a jacket, and some quilt blocks. I've used the hand crank to make more different things than I can remember!
You know, sometimes I wish I could have a sewing machine tailor made just for me, the way I did with the computer! And the way that I do with garments...
Simple economics. There were thousands of good Singers made up until about the Model 503, and they can be had in good working condition for under $200 -- sometimes way under. Berninas on the other hand are not thick on the ground, and those who have them want the earth for them. So, given the possibility of a Singer 401 for $100, and a Bernina 930 for $800 to $1100, which would you choose?
After about 1964 (my personal cut-off date), Singer went down hill fast. By the 70's, most of their machines were cheap badged items which went wrong way too easily. They managed to ride on their old reputation for a good while, but eventually folk got wise. Older Singers that have been well looked after are wonderful machines, but their later period ones are basically junk, with the occasional error on their part meaning that just now and again they produced a good one! These are scarcer than dodo teeth. Recently (in the last couple of years) they have bought in some better stuff, but it's hard to track the good models down at times. You'd be looking at their higher end embroidery machines, from what I've seen.
The thing is, with older Singers, there are a lot of them about... People sell them all the time. Older Berninas and Viking/Husqvarna machine DO exist, but folk love them and hang on to them. Same with Necchi: if you have one of the same vintage as the classic early 60's Singers, you hang on to it and keep it going as long as you can. Singers were made in FAAAAAAR greater quantities, and the same models were built in the USA, Canada, Germany, Russia, India, Scotland... So parts are available world wide. In fact, there are little factories in the Far East that still make parts for some truly ancient treadle models of Singer because they were so ubiquitous, and in places were electrons are elusive, they are still used regularly. For example, Singer 15 parts are easy to come by if you look in the right places, because they were a heavy domestic/light industrial type machine, ideal for tailors and sweatshops in back streets from India to China. My 15-88 Treadle model (made in Canada in the 30's) - it also came as a hand crank portable, a hand crank in a table, and, for the wealthy, with an electric motor, either portable or in a cabinet - was made for several decades in all corners of the world, and parts and accessories are relatively easy to find. The same can be said for my Singer 66: mine was made in Scotland in 1923, but they were still making them in the
50's. Those old cast metal body Singers are very hard to beat and extremely hard to kill. Even those that look like boat anchors can sometimes be made to sew again. Can the same be said of the 1977 Singer I got as a 21st birthday present from my parents? No: unfortunately it was a lemon from day one, and I part exchanged it for my Frister & Rossman Cub 8 in 1982. The Singer was hardly used, but the Cub 8 was a lovely machine, but is dead: the motor died and cannot be replaced. I used it to death. The hand crank Singer goes on...
Occasionally you will see an older Bernina or Necchi for sale: snap it up! BUT!!! Make certain that it has all it's accessories, foot pedal, whatever, because THOSE are the bits that wander off and render the machine unusable! They are far harder to come by for other makes than they are for Singers. Singer was an amazing company with an amazing concept (did you know they started the idea of paying in instalments?), and a VERY good product, but they lost the plot along the line, and have yet to get it back fully. They do not YET sell a machine I am interested in, but I do keep my eyes open.
For some fun stuff, take a look at my old Singers on my web site. I own the treadle and the hand crank, and the little gold beauty belongs to my next door neighbour. I have made stuff on the treadle: some Christmas stockings and a jacket, and some quilt blocks. I've used the hand crank to make more different things than I can remember!
You know, sometimes I wish I could have a sewing machine tailor made just for me, the way I did with the computer! And the way that I do with garments...
Generally, pre-1970 Singers are much more available and less expensive than used Berninas. Older Berninas are definitely wonderful machines, but they do seem to command a higher price than the older Singers. I think the OP was trying not to spend a lot of money.
I can vouch for the above--seems to be true here in the wild west (Wyoming USA) as well as jolly ol' across-the-pond where Kate is. I have many older Singers, four Necchis, and just one vintage Bernina that I came across only recently. It's the only used Bernina I've EVER seen here in a second hand store, after years of looking.
Thanks, you made it all clear. I use a Bernina, and I hadnt thought about it before, but I only got to buy it because the previous owner passed away. I have the impression that's the way with Berninas, nearly no-one selling.
Your Cub 8 - in most cases it is quite possible to do a bit of light engineering and fit a non-original part, in some cases with a suitably modified drive mechanism, to get it running happily again. I dont know the cub 8 specifically, but the odds are it would be quite repairable. Most repair shops dont have the skill to do that sort of thing, as its more engineering than routine repairs, but I've resurrected assorted things that way when they were worth spending an afternoon over. So I shouldnt give up too quickly.
Missing footcontrollers on Berninas are work-round-able by using other makes as donors and replacing the connectors, but its not the sort of thing the average person could do. As far as I can think that is the only essential bit, the add on table being also pretty important, if not genuinely essential.
What would you want in a tailor made machine? I think the only thing I'd change about the Bernina is its price tag :) And ditto for accessories - but thats to be expected. Maybe a machine that would sew
12 layers of denim with more ease, not that I would use that too often. The one thing that always worries me with the B is that due to the motor drive system plus the programming, if you ever catch your finger on the needle and pull your foot off, not only will it refuse to stop but it will apply maximum pressure until the stitch is complete. Kinda puts me off any freehand work :)
I've looked into this on several occasions. The trouble with this particular machine is the way the motor fits sooooh closely in the housing (it's an internal motor), and nobody makes one that fits the hole. If you cut a hole in the casing for the new motor, then the cover wouldn't fit. Most machine motors are much bigger. This is a small portable machine, not as diddy as the Elna Lotus, but getting that way! I must take it out of the loft, clean it off, and take some pix. It was a VERY neat little machine.
I have seen large numbers of older Berninas being parted out because the flatbed extension or gadget box was missing and not replaceable. The only problem with third party foot controls is that they may not fit the storage space quite so well!
Ah, now you're asking! Here goes...
Stitch quality and variety of the HV Lily 550 that I have More buttonholes (I have only 10... ) Ability to change the font size EASILY (it's not too good on this machine) Penetrating ability of the Singer 66K+hammer that I used to sew 4 layers of lorry tarp... Ability to fill the bobbin in the bobbin case A screen that shows the stitch pattern chosen as well as its number The ability to open it up like the Frister & Rossman serger for cleaning (There's some pix on my web site - it's a neat trick!) A hinged flap over the tension mechanism, so I can get at it for extreme cleaning - that would have saved me a tense week without the machine in the middle of a rush project, and £45 in February! A much higher top speed - these new electronic machines don't have the speed of an old Toyota I once used: it wasn't as fast as an industrial, but it was a hell of a lot faster than the Lily! GREAT for curtain making - the most boring sewing job on Earth!
8 or 9 mm zigzag, and quad needles for fun finishes! An adaptor so I can use the Bernina beading foot on the HV machine - best beading foot I've seen so far.
And I'd love full embroidery facilities, but that's a whole nother game altogether!
I think the only thing
In over 40 years of sewing, including some recent free-motion quilting, I've never done that, so I refuse to worry about it!
Well, I'd like the stitch cards and the baste and seam buttons from my Viking #1 combined with the knee lift and the blind hem stitch and blind hem foot from a Bernina...
Motors are made in every size you can imagine, including ones that go down to just 2mm wide. Finding a suitable one would be a bit more involved than going to sewing machine repairers, but I dont see space limits as too much of an obstacle.
What exactly is wrong with the motor btw? I ask as a rewind wouldnt be expensive, maybe £25.
I wonder what you mean by gadget box - the original box with mine just had a few feet in. Is there something I'm missing?
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