1959 Berinia 530 sewing machine ??

[fido]

Not Mine!

My only machine is the one in #19. My link in #28 is just an image I found for a 15-91 that looks similar to my mothers old machine. I think when my mother died my niece got her old machine. I remember hers had a different carrying handle to the one in the photo. There was also a knitting machine but I've no idea what became of that.

 

[retromania]

Good Lord Sandy!

6'4"?!! Then you understand the problem I have finding tall man shirts!!! Yes. Your sewing machine cabinet was like buying a major piece of furniture. Even now I would imagine they're sort expensive because one doesn't come across them much. I've only seen two. Your's being one of them.

 

[danemodsandy]

Andy:

My present Swing-Away cabinet was $140 with a Singer Touch-Tronic 2010 already mounted in it - that's about average. You usually find them with an Athena or a Touch-Tronic in place.

It's really not bad for a great sewing machine and a very well-built piece of furniture. The model Swing-Away that I have (the No. 266-1) is all wood solids and veneers; even what's under the veneer is high-quality plywood, not chipboard. Hardware is all metal. Oh, and it's on heavy-duty casters, for easy moving.

There was a less expensive Swing-Away that was mostly wood, but which had those awful molded-plastic fake wood doors seen so often in the '70s. I've only seen them in photos, never in person. Below is a photo of one, with an Athena 1200 mounted in it; the 1200 was a less expensive, slightly defeatured version of the Athena 2000.

You will stand the best chance of unearthing a Swing-Away by searching Craigslist for Singer sewing machines, and by searching "Athena" and "Touch Tronic." Caveat: Swing-Aways are only plug-and-play with upper-series Singer free-arm machines of the '70s and '80s. Other brands and vintages may require a different head bolt (the angled bolt that holds the machine in place) and/or some modification. They won't work with flatbed machines at all.

I don't have the trouble many tall guys have with shirts - I am short-bodied, with legs that go on forever. Regular shirts fit decently well. It's pants that are a pain in the patootie.

 

[foxchapel]

fido . . . about that breaking thread on your 15K

There is a web site linked below, from TFSR, with very good instructions and photos on refurbishing the old Singers. It shows how to take everything apart, clean, etc. The breaking thread might be as simple as a dirty tension disc. I have used the info on that site when cleaning up my old Singers.

http://www.tfsr.org/publications/technical_information/sewing_machine_manual/

 

[retromania]

fido

Do you have the machine in the link? It looks like your's, but different wiring. The reason I ask is that there is an instruction booklet peeking out of the the accessories compartment. It looks like mine. There are diagrams in there for disassembling and cleaning the upper thread tension discs and the bobbin case.

 

[fido]

Thanks foxchapel

That looks like a really useful site. I do have an instruction book for my machine but it does not cover servicing and adjustments other than very basic stuff. There is a pulley which grips the thread to adjust the tension and I've experimented with that to no avail.

 

[retromania]

fido

Would you mind posting another photo of your machine showing the end of your machine so I can get a look at the upper thread tension configuration.

 

[twintubdexter]

Autowasher members are so smart...

...they seem to know a lot about everything! I never thought there would be so much interest in sewing machines but then I thought the same thing about the water heater thread. Now that the 'snafu" is history concerning that old lady who reneged on her offer to sell me that Pfaff and cabinet, I purchased a very nice machine yesterday at what seems like a good price, $300. The lady was originally from Liverpool (she bought the machine here) and was great fun to talk to. I could have spent the entire day there. She hasn't used the sewing machine for 9 years, ever since her husband passed away. It's been at the bottom of her closet. She said she just lost interest and her sight is rapidly fading. In her heyday she and her husband were professional ballroom dancers and since she was wearing a flashy sequined top she looked the part.

This is the machine I bought to play around with, a Bernina Artista 180. She included a ton of stuff and I have no idea what it does. I counted 18 presser feet (?), 4 embroidery hoops and a bunch of software amongst all the books and things. I took the top off and it looks very clean, same thing at the bottom around the needle. I was thinking about taking it into the local Bernina dealer here and asking whether it should be serviced but I'm affraid they will say it's junk, it needs $1000 in parts or it's trade-in time. The lady demonstrated everything but the embroidery module and it seems to be working fine. I realize the 180 is 12 to 15 years old but it should be fine to learn on.

 

[retromania]

Oh My Gosh!

Those Artistas are expensive. They are thousands of dollars new and even though your's has a little age on it, you got a lot. You got the embroidery attachment with small hoop. Probably larger hoops came with it. You will need to do a software upgrade on it if you plan to download enbroidery designs off the computer. It's a blessing the Pfaff deal fell thru as you got a lot of machine for $300!!!

 

[fido]

Retromania

As requested, a photo showing the tension pulley gubbins. I now notice that the front plate is bent at its bottom edge so perhaps the machine has been dropped at some point.

 

[foxchapel]

twintubdexter . . .

. . . very good price on the Bernina 180. The 180 was the TOL machine, back in its day.

Definitely have it serviced before you use the machine (see my previous post above). Highly doubtful the seller did. Basic service will run approx. $100 by a trained Bernina tech, and well worth it. Bernina's web site 'dealer locator' feature can direct you to a nearby technician.

 

[retromania]

foxchapel

Is absolutely correct. Having serviced would be a good investment. Even if you never embroider, you have a great machine and got so much more for $300.00 than if you had gone to a box store and bought one off the shelf. Those Artistas have all sorts of great built-in features like automatic button holes. Well, you'll see. Again, good job!!

 

[retromania]

fido

The face plate on your machine looks just like mine and your motor mount is like mine. My 15-91 is not gear driven like so many of the 15-91's were. I see the bent place on the face plate you were talking about, but unless it gets in the way of the needle bar you should be ok. Your thread tension knob and discs look different from mine. Probably because it was assmbled in Europe. I bet it's something pretty easy to fix like a good cleaning, oiling and a few adjustments. If I lived closer I would come have a look. Are you sure you threaded it correctly? If it's not threaded correctly that's almost guaranteed thread breakage. Such a pretty machine in that wooden base with extension table.

 

[twintubdexter]

what's a one notch above the poverty level person like m

We shall see what the local Bernina-recommended sales and service dealer quotes me on the service for this machine. I doubt it will be as low as $100. The dealer is in Palm Desert sandwiched between two big-money areas, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. I guess I'm fortunate that there's a dealer near me...the Desert Cities are all pretty small.

 

[retromania]

Ok!

So a tune-up at the local Bernina dealership may not be in your budget. Not to worry. Get the owner's manual and follow the instructions for cleaning and oiling that you can do at home. The good thing about most sewing machines made in the last 20 years is that there a only a few points that have to be oiled. Unlike my old Singer 15-91 which has so many oiling points that I have to refer to the diagram each time I do maintenance on my machine.

 

[twintubdexter]

I'll will still go pay a visit to Ralphy Boy (Ralph's Sewing and Vacuum) and see what he says. I can always take the top off again and spray everything with WD40. Actually I watched a Bernina video on YouTube and the lady said never put oil anywhere except on the bobbin race. She showed where that was so I should be able to find it.

By the way, I decided to upgrade my membership with a small donation to compensate for all the nonsense I post on here.

 

[danemodsandy]

NO WD-40!

WD-40 is one of the very worst things you can do to a sewing machine. Not only does it not lubricate very much (it's a penetrant, not a lubricant), it's not especially good for plastics, as in plastic gears.

Tri-Flow is good, and any sewing machine oil you can buy at a fabric or sewing machine store is okay enough.

But WD-40 will cause problems - possibly minor, possibly enough for your sewing machine tech to make this month's yacht payment.

 

[gansky1]

Nice 180!! Don't spray anything in this machine with WD-40, as you saw in the video,the only point that needs user attention is the bobbin race. WD-40 can gum up the works and even degrade the nylon and plastic parts. Tension adjustments are usually unnecessary but there is plenty of info online should that be necessary. You'll love that machine and if all is working well, you can spend the service money on classes at the local Bernina shop to learn the functions and how to use the embroidery unit. Have fun!

 

[retromania]

All good advice you have received here. Have fun with it!

 

[fido]

I've been trying to check the needle height on mine today as that seems to be the most critical adjustment on the "15" series models. I made use of the tfsr charity site instruction files but I'm wondering if there's a mistake in them. The general section for the bobbin mechanism seems to show the hook as being 180 degrees away from where it is in the advanced techniques section. This equates to the needle in it's uppermost position on my machine. In fact, the information for the "15" series machines seems the least detailed and yet they apparently made more of those than any other model and they produced that model for over 100 years! I thought I had bought new needles when I last looked at the machine but there are only old ones with it now so I will try to get some.

 

[twintubdexter]

thanks for all the good advice...

Of course I was just kidding about spraying a can of WD40 in the machine. I'm hoping someone can explain the embroidery thing to me. Apparently the machine has some pictures built-in and there are expensive cards with additional designs you can find online. There was no computer software included. The book says to make sure you have it loaded on your computer before you connect the machine. There's software downloads on the Bernina website but I'm sure they're for newer models. I understand you can use something called a "magic box" that connects to the computer and downloads pics to a re-writeable card that fits in the machine or the slot in the embriodery module. Then there something called Generations software that digitizes anything which the machine can easily read but the cost is like $2,000! I am talking to someone who has the software package for sale at 75% less than that and the software manufacturer has told me what I need to make sure is included. They charge $75 to re-register the product for support. There's something called a "dongler" that plugs into the computer that has the code for using the program. Without that you're screwed. This is all very confusing to me and I'm not sure I want to get that involved with a sewing machine. I.'m hoping the people at the Bernina dealer will help me. I'd like to take a sewing machine class but I think I'd need to dress up like Mrs. Doubtfire to feel comfortable.

having problems with your bobbin, dearie?

 

[gansky1]

I have a newer model Bernina (440QE) with the embroidery module & software and it works pretty slick. eBay is a good source for design software from Bernina and there are lots of independent designers around that format their stuff to work with these modules. It's very impressive to use however, in designs with lots of colors, changing the thread constantly gets a little tedious. It's still fun even and you'll be amazed at what you can do.

Glad to hear the WD40 was a joke - I figured you probably knew better but also didn't want to see a good Bernina end up in pieces. LOL. Keep us posted on your progress, that price is such a steal!

 

[retromania]

fido

I will look on the net and see what I can find that might help you.

 

[kb0nes]

WD40 is NOT a lubricant

Glad to see you guys are wary of the WD40. The only thing it really should be used for is as a water dispersant to spray on machined parts to prevent rust due to water based machining coolants (what it was designed to do). Its not a lubricant, its just Kerosene (Stoddards solvent) and perfume. It is a great cleaning solvent for tar and sticker residue though. The company has done well morphing the product into magical snake oil that cures all ills though!

For a sewing machine I'd probably suggest the factory supplied oil as the first choice. In place of that something like Starrett M1 instrument oil would be wise. Tri-Flow is a great lubricant but its thin and not sure about the particulate PTFE suspended in it for this application. LPS-2 is good also for a aerosol. As an aside the best spray lubricant I have ever used is Mobile 1 Synthetic, alas it is no longer available. If you EVER run across a can buy it right away, it's wonderful stuff!

Another don't is 3-in-One oil, that stuff always seems to turn into a varnish like gum on anything I have used it on.

 

[danemodsandy]

Phil:

A lot of sewing machine buffs swear by Tri-Flow. One of its huge advantages is that the thinness you mention allows it to get into gears readily. Another is that it doesn't seem to gum up.

Glad you mentioned 3-In-1 Oil as another no-no. Hell, that stuff gums up on the can's spout.

But if all else fails and you cannot find anything else, the sewing machine oil at your nearest Hancock's or Jo-Ann Fabrics will get you by.

 

[foxchapel]

sewing machine oil - only

Definitely no WD-40 or 3-in-1 oil. Tri-Flow is okay for older vintage machines with all metal gears, but I would not let it near the Bernina 180. I would research before using it on a vintage Bernina, mostly because of the nylon gears. I only use it on my vintage Singers.

Tri-Flow has Teflon in it, IIRC. That vintage Bernina Yahoo group has had discussions on Tri-Flow from time to time. Sewing machine oil ~only~ for the computerized/electronic Berninas. It can be any reputable brand sewing machine oil, but please not a rubbish brand.

Depending on which format the 180 "reads" (.EXP or .ART), if it is .EXP you could buy the Embird basic software from that web site. (Embird can not save in .ART format, the proprietary format of Bernina) Embird's Basic package is inexpensive and then there are add-ons, a la carte.

There is a free download of ArtLink or somesuch version from Bernina's web site, but sometimes the newer softwares will not play nice with an older machine. Check with your dealer because I could very well be wrong about this.

Machine embroidery is an expensive hobby, all the stabilizers, purchase of designs, some sort of software, etc. etc. etc. You might be happy just using it as a sewing machine and have a bit of luck trying to sell of the embroidery module & hoops. And a fine sewing machine it is.

We see guys, from time to time, in the machine embroidery classes at the local sewing dealer. No big deal. Some of the best quilters and machine embroidery artists in the U.S. are men.

 

[twintubdexter]

I'm not opposed to getting a legitmate version (not a copy) of the Generations software. It's pretty amazing what it can do. I am determined to master the things this machine does including using the embroidery module. There are 5 hoops, one is about 8.5" X 19"...looks big enough to monogram one of my mu mu's. If I can get the module to work I may be able to make some spare change. I think there may be a market for personalized jockey shorts here in Palm Springs.

 

[danemodsandy]

I Wonder.....

....If there's something specific to Berninas that makes Tri-Flow a no-no?

Never has hurt any of my Singers, which do have plastic gears. As much as I like the older Singers with all-metal gear trains, you really have to get up into the '70s to get a free-arm machine, and that means plastic. My interest in Singers really starts with the Athena 2000.

 

[maytagbear]

I don't currently own a sewing machine......

but I have been looking around for a good secondhand machine...a "portable," for I wnt to participate in my church's quilting group. I know more than a few sewers, and those who have Bernina machines have all endorsed dealer service stores. Small sample, only 4, but......

I'd really love a green Elna, or a Singer Slant-O-Matic.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[danemodsandy]

Lawrence:

The "gold standard" for quilters who want portability is a Singer Featherweight.

They are, sadly, somewhat pricey nowadays, but they really can do the job, no question.

A Slant-O-Matic is not a bad machine, but the Featherweight is The One for quilters.