Anyone own a Bernina 1260?
 

My sister died and left her daughter her almost brand new Bernina 1260. My niece wants to sell it. I want to keep it in the family. My sister used it for one year. My niece said I could have it for $800. I don't know anything about the 1260. All I know is it hasn't been used very much and it's in perfect condition.

Can anyone tell me anything about this machine and if it's a good machine? Thank you very much, Jeanne.

I found these completed listings on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...mplete=1&rt=nc

It looks very much like my Bernina 1230, which I *love*. My only concern about the machine would be the age of the electronics on it. If the motherboard were to go out on my machine, for example, it would probably not be worthwhile to try to repair it. My machine cost in the neighborhood of $1500 new about 15 years ago.

I'd want that machine if it were me. Motherboards would not be a concern of mine in the purchase. It was your sisters... I know several women who've had their older Berninas completely rebuilt because they love them so much. And it was completely worth it to do so as Berninas hold their value over any other sewing machine manufacturer. I own about 5 vintage Berninas and would never part with them!

I don't know anything about the 1260, but I have the 1160 and would not get rid of it. I love it.

If the machine is only a year or so old and $800 I would think that is a good deal. A low end Bernina will cost more than that.

It is a good machine.

If that were my sister's machine I would want it. I own 3 Berninas and they are great machines.

It may have been used only a year, but I think it would be considerably older than one year. Seems to me they stopped making this model about ten years ago -- maybe more.

I used to have a Bernina 1260, it was built in 1996. I loved that machine. It is essentially the same as a 1230, but it has 2 alphabets, there is an interchangable plate on the front that will change between block and script lettering. The second plate is in a pocket in the manual. If it is a 1260QPE it will have a few extra stitches, including a row of satin stitch hearts. I only sold mine to afford to buy my Bernina 440. $800 would be a good price. When I sold mine, priced were in the $1000-$1200 range for it. Although I do not regret buying the 440, I do miss the 1260 and the 1090 I used to have. They are so smooth and reliable. They are metal outside and just felt different from the plastic outside of my 440 (although the 440 has a metal frame inside). I found a 910 on craigslist last year and bought it for a backup machine. It does not do any decroative stitches but has the same Bernina quality.

I have a 1260 as my back up machine. I bought it new about 15 or 17 years ago - still runs like a champ. I've never had any problem with it - it is a true workhorse. I would snap it up!