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,
