2 Berninas for me this week #1 Bernina 807 Minimatic
 

It's raining older Berninas this week. I'll have to get pics of the 640-2 flatbed made in 1954 tomorrow. But, I picked up this 807 and cleaned it up today. It came with case, all attachments, manual and attachable bed. She's very similar to my 830 Record, but smaller and lighter. It's in great condition and was well taken care of. I'm in Bernina heaven. Now to get my 640-2 working...that will be harder as it's locked up good and tight.

Lovely machine Candace, I bet she stitches beautifully. Good luck with the 640-2.

Clare

Oooooo. Those Berninas are great machines! They often come in excellent condition because their owners take really good care of them. Your 640-2 must be the exception to the rule. Can't wait to see photos of her too.

The 640-2 was made in 1954, used very little and sat for a lifetime so it's going to need some elbow grease to get going. But, it'll be a fabulous machine.

This minimatic is so cute and does a great stitch. I like that it has my favorite stitches from the 830 record. I use the serpentine stitch a lot in quilting. Yet, it's much smaller and lighter than the 830 so will be easier to move around. It took me a while to figure out how to remove the top to service it! Although it's a mini 830, there are some differences.

Yes! Me too. In fact, I just attached a binding to a charity quilt just yesterday using the serpentine stitch. It's so graceful.

Me too. I love to do bindings on all the quilts I know will be washed frequently with the serpentine stitch. Berninas and my Elnas both do the same stitch. Even my Singer 319 has a cam for it! I was disappointed when I got my 401A that it didn't have the capability for a serpentine stitch.

I check this section of QB every day. Love seeing all the posts about the "new" older machines. I smiled today as I read this post about the 807 mini. I watched for Bernina's to come up for months and finally found a Bernina Nova 900 I could afford. I was looking for this or a 801 Sport or 807 mini (in no particular order). I did see a Sport 801 but at the same time as the 900. I would have loved to have both but the DH just doesn't get my fascination/love of vintage machines. Budget was an issue too. Do you know if the stitch you mention has a different name? I don't see it in my manual. I'm excited to finally be a Bernina owner. This machine weighs about 27 lbs and has all it's original accessories and a Properly working case. This brings my machine ownership to 7. Don't let hubby know, lol.

looks very similar to my 830 Record. I need to put it in the shop. I love sewing on it so much. It was making bird nests when I first would start a seam. I checked the bobbin several times...then rethreaded it numerous time..now it the needle will go up and down but it's not sewing the fabric. Tues. I'm taking it to the shop. I'm sure it needs a service call too.

Hugs
joycet

I looked at the top of my 640-2 that's sitting rather disassembled on my floor and you have the 0, 1 and then 2 stitch which is the serpentine stitch. I think they call it a running stitch in the manual, but I'm not sure?

I want a Nova too!! I would love the strange greenish one that is ultra rare or the one with the red trim. How do you like your Nova?

Did you clean the bobbin area well and around the feed dogs? The bobbin area has a latch where you can pop out the bobbin area and clean. Maybe there's something in there?

I found a Bernina 910, which is a bit newer than yours on CL for only $100!! I was dismayed to find that it does not have the presser foot pressure adjustment, and I find it a little too tight. Even in modern Berninas, I had to pay $2399 for their "cheapest" (NOT) machine that has this feature. My 1893 Singer has it, but not a $1300 2013 Bernina.

Do you folks who have these older machines miss this adjustment?

No, I don't miss it because my vintage Berninas are adjusted correctly. Vintage Elnas are the same way. I've not had to adjust any of mine as the pressure is dead on, but I believe there is a way to do this inside the head of the machine.

Candace,

That is a cute little Bernina. Not only does it look like a miniature 830, it also looks like a miniature 930. My wife has a 930 and loves it.

We also have a 319K with oodles of cams. My wife asked me to ask you what the serpentine cam number was for the 319 and the Bernina. Or what does it look like?

Joe

No, not at all. In fact, I was just marveling at how smoothly my 930 handled the many different fabrics of my last charity quilt. I did a lot of squiggly quilting -- sorta like a wonky manual serpentine stitch -- with a white upper thread and a navy bobbin thread. (It resembles the quilt in my avatar) Nary a problem with any of it. They just don't make 'em like they used to!

Joe, on the 319 (or 306) it's cam #20. I don't know why they stopped using that stitch on the 400 and 500 series of cams because it's one of my favorites.

Serpentine is basically snake like. So picture a snake or an "S" shape.

Candace,

Thanks for the numbers, we do have a #20 flat cam.
I also checked my stitch pattern chart I made with my 401, and top hat cam #2 makes what really looks like a serpentine pattern.

Maybe I should do one with the 319, 401 / 500, and Bernina 930 to see how they compare.

Joe

Joe, no that #2 cam isn't an 'S', that's a scallop type. It doesn't make the full curve and the stitch out is quite different than a serpentine. It's half of a serpentine stitch or a backwards 'C'.

I also have an 807.. wonderful little machine.. I bought my 830 brand new way back when it was introduced.. it still runs like a champ.. I was delighted to find this littler 807.. it's like the 830 has a little sister!!

Here's are the two sisters:> The 807 is lighter. Those extra cams in the 830 are heavy.

Candace congratulations on your Berninas! The twins are really cute little machines! Do you have a dating chart for them or maybe there is a Bernina Yahoo group? The Bernina is one machine I have no experience with, but if I ever find one at a yard sale, estate sale, etc., I'd grab it up in a heart beat!

How do you think the Bernina compares to the vintage Viking or Pfaff?

Nancy

Nancy, I dated my 640-2(which I've not started a thread on yet) to 1954, but these two machines were probably from the 70's? Bernina has a way to date the machines using the serial #, but it doesn't matter to me with these two machines.

Bernina is most like Elna in their design, IMO. Which makes sense as they were located near each other and probably shared the same people working for them at some point. They aren't as quiet as an Elna, however, but Elnas have insertable cams and Berninas have built in cams which can add to the machine noise level and weight. The star series Elnas (62 C and beyond into the Carinas) are whisper quiet.


I don't find Berninas to be as hard to work on as Pfaffs but the parts and availability of getting them is sure up there in cost along with all other European manufacturers.

The vintage Pfaffs also lack the ability to do a serpentine stitch, but Viking has it on the 'B' cam, I believe!