Old ElnaSuper to the rescue!
 

My daughter's MIL was killed in an auto accident recently. Her MIL was a hoarder. My DD is helping empty the house so it can be sold. She found 3 Necchi sewing machines in cabinets, a Bernina serger, 2 ElnaSupers, 18 pair of scissors, hundreds of spools of thread for both the sewing machines and the serger, plus a lot of other sewing items. I agreed to take one ElnaSuper and the serger, plus some of the other sewing supplies for our hospital sewing group. Everything in the house that is not going to people who have agreed to take things off their hands is going to Goodwill, including 17 George Foreman grills.

Yesterday my 4 year old Singer machine was giving me lots of trouble. I went to the old ElnaSuper, cleaned it up a bit, threaded it (after watching a Youtub video on how to thread the Elna) and finished the project I was working on. That machine, I think made in 1952, sewed beautifully!! Ran so smooth. I love it! It is all metal so it is very heavy. I couldn't figure out what the 12 funny looking large round black disks were so again I went to the Internet and found out they are cams for fancy stitches like the ones built-in on today's machines.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has this Elna machine and any information about it. So far, they have not found a manual for it. I don't know if the Elna will stitch backwards. I had to tie threads at the end of stitching yesterday. I will be happy to learn more about this machine. I'll be getting the serger even though it appears to be broken. We have a really good Bernina repair shop in out area.

Yes it sews backwards. Keep it super clean inside the bobbin area. My Elnas are my most smooth and quiet machines. Do take care to keep it oiled and clean as there are some nylon gears that are prone to cracking if the machine is not taken care of properly. There are Elna manuals for download if you join the vintage Elna group on yahoo.

Bibliogirl,

Sorry to hear about your daughters MIL's accident.

My wife says if you have any bias tape, any color, that's unclaimed she'll be glad to pay the shipping to get it.

Joe

I love Elna's - is it one of the old green ones or is it the blue?

http://www.clawges.com/sewing/Elna_manual/index.html

Link to a copy of the manual. It is a fabulous machine!

Thanks for the link as I found one for $20 but it had no manual or cams!

I had one of these and just loved it. I think it did the best gathering stitch of any machine I ever owned. I traded mine for a new home (janome). Finances at that time would not let me keep it. I have seen them at garage sales and thought I should buy one.
The cams are so cool (and retro).
Congrats on the new (old) toy.

Thanks for the advice and information about manuals. I am sure I will find one now. I plan to take the Elna to a shop that knows all about Swiss machines and have it cleaned and checked out. I am happy to know that it will stitch backwards. I hate tying threads because my fingers anymore wont do what I want them to. Looking at pictures of Elna machines on the Internet, I think this one was made around 1952. It is mostly a whiteish color with a light blue top on the machine. I am really looking forward to learning more about this machine. I don't do a lot of fancy sewing, but this may lead me to do some things that are different. It came with a box full of attachments.

This woman's death was a real tragedy. She pulled out onto a US highway in front of a fully loaded semi going 65 mph. She was such a wonderful, caring person. Keep her in your prayers. They are still cleaning out the house and if they find any bias tape I will certainly let you know, J Miller.

Thanks everyone!

I have an Elna SU that I bought in 1973. I still use it today. Everytime I look at new machines the durability does not compare to my Elna. I'm sure you will enjoy it. I have a book if you don't find it. I could scan it to you.