Year plastic parts started showing up?
 

Hello vintage enthusiasts. I like vintage machines but know they are not all made alike. Can anyone tell me when the plastic gears/parts started showing up? I'd like to be a wise shopper when looking at on-line listings. Thanks!

Well, I'm going to say somewhere in the 70s, although I'm sure it varied by manufacturer. I know for example that my Bernina 830 (ca. 1973) has metal cams to produce decorative stitches, but my Viking 6570 (ca. 1979) has plastic cams in its camstack.

I'm curious to hear what other say.

My Singer was purchased in 1975 and the gears are plastic.

I have a Singer Touch and Sew from about 1969 and it has plastic cams and gears. I don't think I can measure by Bernina because they have been a company that stays with mostly metal. My Bernina 1008 is all metal inside and I purchased it in 2000.

My Pfaff 295-1 made in the 70s is all metal but with plastic gears...made in west germany. The 60s and 70s must have been the downfall of quality products :) kidding.

Sorry folks, Bernina uses nylon gears in their vintage machines. It's not super important to me, but I have a 1954 Bernina with several nylon gears and the 830 has some nylon/plastic gears too.

At least the early / mid 50s. The Kenmore 120-491 has lots of plastic in it. It also has an aluminum skeleton on the inside and a clam shell body. It was the precursor of bad things to come.

Joe

Wow, I guess there's nothing for it but to have a look-see inside. I just looked at an interesting machine today....a Dressmaker De Luxe "Ämerican" model 125 made in Japan. I'm wondering if it's been refurbed because it is in beatiful condition while the case looks horrible. It has a "mamco" motor and the belt is too loose. There is also an extra, new belt with it. Now for some research to see what it might be worth.

I have bought many machines that look all but new, and the case is horrid. The cases took the brunt of everything. Water, smoke, oil, body oils, animals, and worst enemy of all, moisture.

Joe

Well this one, if it is from around here, has stayed pretty dry. There isn't a spec of rust on the machine, a few slight scratches on the paint. The pedal is even shiney. Decals and badges, everything is shiney and moves. It has 4 feeddog positions, the bobbin winder, light bulb, etc.