The Connection Between Vacuums and Sewing Machiness

[columbus]

Sewing machine collection and vacuum cleaner collection

Wow, this truly is striking a cord so close to home. In addition to my collection of approximately 150 vacuum cleaners, I also have a modest collection of sewing machines.

Both my grandmothers were fashion designers and made the most exquisite wedding dresses, gowns, and grew in their abilities from the most basic machines like the Singer 128K and the Necchi Straight Stitch, to later models doing a one step automatic buttonhole.

Unfortunately my moms mother passed away when I was a few months old, and a few years ago I was given her last Sewing machine, a Bernina 740 Favorit, which was a " How do you do" machine at the time. In addition to the machine with its ornamental zig-zag variation stitches, I also received her smocking machine, a non electrical machine that pleats material.

In my collection I have Sewing machines Models varying from Bernina Favorit 740, Bernina 640-2 Favorit. I have a large interest in Elna's from before elna went bankrupt in the early 90's My oldest is an elna automatic Knee lever, complete with discs, July 1960, Elna star series, 62C SUPER-Blue Top TSP Pink/Aipricat top, Elna Stella Air electronic TSP, Elna Carina SU Air Electronic, Elna Contessa 310-18 (Made in Japan) Elna 2004-SP (Made in Japan), Elna 9006 Envision Sewing Embroidery Machine Combo, Elna 8300 Embroidery machine, Elna 744 Serger.


Singers as follows: 306K Spotless, 760 Slant-o-matic, Perfect Condition 1975 Automatic Bobbin winder without having to remove the bobbin, and step automatic buttonhole My great grandmothers Singer 128K Bullet bobbin case mavhine dated 1912. Singer 15K Spotless with zig-zag attachment with discs and one step automatic buttonhole. Singer Magic 14.

Brother: My gran who passed away 4 years ago's Brother Compal Opus 845, and serger.

These are a few to mention. hence the Elna and Bernina range lays me very close to my heart. The more stitches it has and Functions, the more exciting. To those who also collect Sewing machines in addition to Vacuum Cleaners, I can not explain the nostalgic attraction, but I can not pass an Elna or Bernina made in Switzerland.

Merry Chrisatmas and a prospourous new year.
Adrian
South-Africa

 

[eurekaprince]

Adrian! What a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing.

I'm always curious about corporate history and parent companies behind brandnames. I'm also fascinated by locations of manufacture. Were any of your machines made right there in South Africa? Where were the Singers made? Was Elna ever connected to a vacuum maker such as Electrolux?

Happy New Year from Canada!

 

[vacerator]

An old friend said

it this way once. "It's a woman's movie".

 

[columbus]

Thank you very much.

The history really intrigues me too. To my knowledge, there is no machines I am aware off, made in South-Africa.

As far as the Origin of the Singer sewing machine go, Most of the old black Hand crank Singers and treadle machines, were made in Britain,England. The Singer Slant-o-Matics, seem to have their origin in Germany, and some of the Singers like the magic 14, 6512C, Melody, Harmony, Symphonie dated the early 1980's from Brazil. These days, Taiwan.

Most machines made these days come from the same factory, the Brother Manufacturer in Taiwan. Well as with vacuums too, you get good ones and then the not so wonderful ones that last until the warrantee expires.

Elna, Brother, Bernina(Bernette), Empisal, Janome, all come from the same manufacturer, with the accept ion to the name tag. Hence looking at maybe the Elna 8200, 8300 and 8600 embroidery machines are all identical in every way, appearances functions, than the Berrnette 340, 500, 650 embroidery machine brought out by Bernina.

I prefere the older models as you can see in the pictures, as they were precision made, with a stamp of quality. Gears were made of steel, and each foot, bobbin, or accessory was precision fit to the model. Each and every sewing project was completed with perfect machine made stitching.

Elna who brought out their first machine around 1949, the Elna Grasshopper, had a top loading bobbin, which carried the same system through all models to 1990's.

Once Elna Switzerland went bankrupt, the Elna Contessa made its appearance with the front oscilating bobbin, bobbin holder system. Needles to say, the tradition of a quiet smooth running Swiss machine was over for Elna. At this stage it was making use of the exact same size, and identical bobbin and bobbin holder. hook and accessories as Janome, Brother, Finesse, Empisal, and so forth under the Taiwanese umbrella of Brother. All components and replacement parts were mass made and well so I need to say more. Elna and Bernina brought out the more cost efficient ranges of Elnita, and Bernette, to compete with the other marketed sewing machines in the 1980's and especially with the introduction of the overlocker (3 thread at the stage), a new system, machine that enhances quality craftsmanship, of designers.

Most home sewers were looking for a good solid sewing machine at a reasonable price thatwill last for years, hence a name brand was second to price. The markets were extremely competitive and with fashion changing in the 1980's at a rapid pace, consumers were exposed to more brand names as what they were use to.



Many of the Elna's from the 1970's-1980's are still in use in South-Africa, and all around the world, by far longer than their newer models,

 

[eurekaprince]

Thank you, Adrian. Very interesting that one Brother factory in Taiwan is the source of so many sewing machines. We never hear of any vacuum cleaners made in Taiwan - only Mainland China.