$25 Bernina
 

I am a Bernina fan and I just bought a Bernina 930 for $25. There was just one foot and no case, but the table part is there and I have taken it apart and cleaned it which by the way it was hardly a speck of dust or lint in it.

It has a silver bar on the front and by the manual, it looks like the thread goes under the bar twice be for it goes to the take up lever. I cannot figure how you get the thread behind the bar. It sews wonderful with the way I have it threaded and I am thinking I just cannot see the thread in the picture and it is really not behind the bar. I will be searching for feet. It sure seems like I have stumbled across a real jewel. I walked away thinking "Whoopee".

Here's a pretty straight forward diagram:

http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diagrams/Threading_Pages/Bernina_Sewing_Machine_Threading/bernina_930_threading_diagram.htm

It doesn't look like the thread goes through the bar at all. To me, anyway. I'd say you got yourself a good deal. :)

Gad zooks! I'll say! From eHow:

"The Bernina Record 930 Electronic sewing machine was a groundbreaking piece of equipment when it was introduced in 1978. The Bernina 930's 26 stitches, customizable stitch widths and needle positions and a motor that will knock your socks off make it a highly sought-after machine even today. This model sells on auction sites for well over $700."

I recently bought an 830 for $20 with all the feet, case etc. but had to buy the control and am repairing the cracked camstack gear....but these machines are worth their weight in gold. Congrats.

What a great deal!! Enjoy!!

You basically got the deal of the century! My Mom has a 930 and has willed it to me...she has given it a workout for many years since she got it new in 1980. I have a 1030 which is the next one they made...but her 930 is even better.

Bernina Dealers will tell you that the 930 was the best machine that Bernina ever made. I have had mine for 25 years and have never had a repair. You did get the deal of the century. I have seen them on e-bay and it is close to what I paid for mine. Owners are not trading them in. I will never trade mine in. I have other newer Berninas and my 930 is my "good ol' trusted friend" that I will never part company with. Enjoy.

The silver bar on my older Bernina doesn't do anything, the thread just runs across it.

I read this info I though was interesting for the 930: If the serial # starts with 24 or 25, and it has the correct pedal, it has the "heel tap needle up/down" feature, so when you need to turn a corner, for example, you just tap the back of the pedal with your heel, and the needle goes down. Both hands are free to turn your project. Tap it again, and the needle goes up!(930s built before 1984 do not have this feature.)

What luck, I can't believe you can get a Bernina at such a great deal. Congratulations!
I have Berninas and would not have anything else, they sew great!

Congratulations. I have a friend that has the 930 and even though she has had several other Berninas has also kept her 930 as a back-up machine.


mltquilt

Just curious where you found this gem... :-)

Wow, what a deal!!! I would love a 930. I bought a Bernina 910 as a backup machine (to my Bernina 440 computerized machine). It's a basic model of the same era as the 930, it has no decorative stitches and no knee lift. Yet, it is the same Bernina quality.

The info about the heel tap for needle down/up doesn't always hold true. Mostly, but there are exceptions. My 910 is dated 1983 (serial number begins with 23), but it does have the heel tap. The foot control type that came with the machine is a better indicator (although the foot control could have been replaced). The type 366 foot control would have come with the heel tap machine, type 347 foot control would be earlier without the heel tap.

Wow great buy! A few feet and you will have a gem!

I bought a 910 on CL earlier this summer for $100. It is complete with case, table, manual and all attachments, so I think I did well too. One thing really puzzles me. For such expensive machines I can't understand why Bernina did not make the presser feet pressure adjustable. I have machines from made from 1894-2012 and this Bernina is the only one with no adjustment.

Congratulations on such a bargain!

Awesome deal. I have an 830 that was my DH Grandmother's and I love it. I have been able to get all parts and feet for my machine at www.sewingpartsonline.com They have everything you could need it is a great website.

Enjoy your new machine.

What, $25!!! You really scored. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my 930. Just an FYI, my dealer told me to NEVER get rid of it and I have been sooo glad I haven't. I know you will enjoy and fall in love with your 'new' 930. You should be able to get a manual online, if you don't have one.

WOW, what a deal...you're so very lucky. I have extra feet if your interested PM me.

great deal

About 18 months ago, I went to an estate sale that I saw on Craig's list. The lady was a Dr. of some sort and a sewer and quilter. She also was 20 times the fabric hoarder that I am. She had a house full of fabric, a trailer full of fabric and sewing and quilting notions, another stand alone place where she taught classes with full bolts and a garage full of books. I bought around 500 yards of fabrics, notions, rulers, blades and lots of fabric kits, patterns, blocks of the month from different quilt stores, and fat quarter bundles. My husband nearly had a stroke as I was dragging my niece, friends, DIL and her friends, sister out there about every other day and bringing back loads. I spent right at $150 for all. It was unbelievable. I had pictures of a lot of it, but never posted them...why, I don't know. I got fabric for a friend that sews many donation quilts and more than what I can describe.

Well, I saw a garage sale advertised and it said sewing tables so I decided to go look. It was one of the nieces who had been running the sale at her aunts. We recognized each other and I looked at the sewing tables and asked her if she sold her aunt's machines. She said she had one left. She took me to an outside shed and there that baby sat with roach poo all over her outside. I plugged it in and she purred so I said how much? She said $25 and I almost knocked her down to give her the money.

Both the nieces who were trying to clean out the aunt's properties were very nice ladies. I had had shoulder surgery and was in a mess and a sling. I had to take someone with me every time I went because I could only use one hand. It must have been 90-100 degrees in the buildings where we were digging through boxes of fabrics. Included in all I got were quilt kits that originally had been $70 to $198. Some of those I have given away to friends who could not make the sale. I paid like $3. each for them. Amazing what quilters will do for a good price on quality cotton fabric. One day she made ice cold lemonade and brought it too us. They just wanted to get rid of everything so the place could be sold. I probably brought 6-8 people out to buy so I guess that is why she remembered me...or I am just memorable. Bet when you asked how I found the 930, you never expected a book.:) I cleaned the poo off and when I opened her up, there was hardly a speck of dust so the aunt had really maintained her machines. I have found doing something nice for someone always comes back 10-fold on me. I am so excited over this machine.

Wow you got a steal of a deal !

My SIL still has her 930 and probably won't ever part with it ... I have first dibs, IF she ever decides to ...!

What a cool story...goes to show, you never know what you'll turn up!

Amazing! What a great find!

You reall did get a "steal"I have a 930 bought it in 1985 and LOVE it. Never had any problems with it. You should be able to purchase feet somewhere. I have no idea what you are talking about with the silver bar. I just went to check mine out. and there isn't any way the thread can go under that bar that I know of anyway. When it comes off of the spool, there is a place behind the machine near the thread spool that you thread under, then throught the space on top of the machine, which is the tension area, and down under the hook thing below the silver bar, and back up to the take up lever, then down to the needle, thread fron front to back on the machine. I have no idea what the silver bar is for, and I always thread my machine in this way, there is a small hook at the top area where the neddle is behind the needle, and the thread goes in there and then down to the needle. P. M. me if you have any problems, and if you want to sell it I would buy it for what you paid and also pay the postage. lol Seriously if you decide to get rid of it let me know. I sew on mine most of the time or on my FW's. I wouldn't trade my Bernina for any new machine. Let me know if you have problems with the threading and I will send you a pic. of how mine threads. Have fun.

Congrats on that deal! I received a 930 for Christmas in 1984 ... still LOVE it to death ... will never give it up. Still runs great. Watch the thrift stores/craigslist or ebay for extra feet.

I have it threaded correctly. Thanks Gerbie and others who clarified for me. I have had an offer for feet and I did PM the person so I might be able to get the feet for a good price. I am just waiting to hear back. My niece has already put in dibs if I get rid of it which she knows is not happening. She was with me when I bought it. It sure sews wonderful and I am so excited about getting this great price. Thanks to all of you who confirmed it was a good machine. My niece told me I had to find her one for a great price now...don't think I could ever find another one for $25...but I would have said my chances were a million to one also so you never know. I love this board.

Arghh, a double post. This laptop has a mind of its own.

Thanks for telling us how you got it. Better than a fairy tale, haha! :-)

Wow! What a deal! I wish I could find a Bernina that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I would love to have a Bernina, but they are out of my price range. I've never found a used one within range. When people ge a Bernina, they keep it. Maybe some day . . .

I am interested in your feet Grama Chris. Please Pm or e-mail me.

My Bernina is a 1230. I bought it used years ago. Does anyone know what year it was made? Runs like a charm and never had any problems with it. Prior to the Bernina, I always had Vikings.

Look at you serial number on the back of you machine. On Berninas made since the 70s, the first digit denotes the decade (1=70s, 2=80s, 3=90s, 4=00s, 5=10s). The second number in the serial denotes the year within the decade (i.e. 23=1983, 36=1996, 45=2005, ect.). HTH!

Thank you sooooo much. Maureen