Part 2
We decided we'd bite the bullet and spend the bigger bucks and won a "fully functioning" 6570 off ebay. Machine showed up with some bent parts and would only sew backwards. Seller admitted he took someone else's word that it sewed, refunded our money and let us keep the machine as he didn't want to pay to ship it back. Then we won a second from Goodwill - figured the money went to a good cause even if it didn't work - and it didn't . . . By know DH had been researching and learned a lot more about issues with the 6000 series Vikings (they are NOT something a beginner should try to deal with) and we ended up picking up a third about 3 hours away - was a nice afternoon road trip. And in the end, DH has his 6570 (still needs some work) and a lot of part to sell on Ebay. He used parts from all three (and some purchased) to get one working machine.
I don't mind, I like having a machine around like my first. BTW - my sis-in-law still has my old machine, but she wasn't willing to part with it. She said it had "issues" but it worked fine for the little sewing she did. I sold it to her 33 years ago . . .
So one would think DH would be happy with his current harem - but he found THIS BOARD - and that is when the real problems started . . .
Unbeknown to me, he started reading and then lusting after more machines. On one of our monthly visits to my Mom, we stopped at a quilt shop that had a class going on. And there were several ladies with older Berninas there, and I guess they caught his eye -( the machines, not the ladies LOL!!). Next I knew, he was "watching" Berninas on ebay, and with QB's help, and developed a desire for a Bernina 830 Record.
I figured me and his current machines were safe - the chances of him finding 830 Record in his price range were very slim . . . but some power higher than me had other plans.
By this time, my whole family was aware of our interest in old sewing machines, For a bit of background, I come from a large family (10 living siblings) - there are over 30 grandchildren and most are married now with kids of their own. One of my nephews and his wife live with Mom, and his wife is her full time caretaker, otherwise Mom would need to be in a nursing home. The "farm" was sold long ago, but the developer agreed to wait until Mom and Dad were gone - so Mom is still living there - Dad passed last fall, and Mom is could go at any time.
We know the place will be bulldozed - so Nephew is in the process of cleaning up the buildings and getting rid of stuff. Five years ago one of my brothers "M", and his family moved back to MN, and he left a load of crap in one of the sheds. He told Nephew "I don't want it, do what you want with it".
So we are visiting Mom (I'm trying to make the trip once a month). And nephew says to DH "You like sewing machines, right? M left one out in the shed, you can have it if you want".
So DH and I head out to the shed - this is a large shed (was a working farm at one time) and is now filled with assorted stuff. We were looking around and trying to find something that Nephew might think was a sewing machine. . . DH was looking for a cabinet, I was looking for a case. We both had walked all around, and I figure there had to be something . . . and then my brain clicked - there was a RED case in with some other stuff. Now, I had no idea what came in red cases - some non-Singer . . .
I said "here it is!" DH came over and still wasn't seeing it (was thinking "cabinet") I said "The RED case" and DH"s eyes got real big. Now he knew what came in a red case.
We pulled it out - and I said, "hey, it says "Bernina" on the case." DH opened it, looked, closed it and took it and locked it in the back of the truck.
I said "I take it you want it" and he replied "this one is coming home with us" We didn't say much about it at the time. He told Nephew "thanks" and it wasn't until we were on the road that DH spilled the beans.
It was a Bernina 830 Record with all the attachments in wonderful shape. Then DH asked me if I was playing a joke on him - bought the machine and had Nephew put it there for him to find, as the chances of finding his current "Dream Machine" like that for free . . .
I finally said "Look, Hun, you know I'm no good at keeping secrets".
DH still does not want me to ask Brother M about it. We have a sneaking suspision it belonged to M's wife. We found evidence the machine came from WI - and so did she, and I know her current machine is a much newer Bernina . . . But M is also a pack rat, so it would be just like him to have picked this up from someone intending to get it running, and then never doing it. Some day I will ask M, but I assured DH it is staying with us.
This lady needed a new cord - the foot pedal was there, but the cord was all chewed up. The machine making rat's nests something fierce. DH ordered a cord and put a older foot pedal on it (he did not want to cut up the original cord and pedal) and got her sewing beautifully.
She hasn't quite displaced the 403A - just sits on top.
Now, one would think after finding his "dream girl", my DH would be satisfied - but no, someone on QB got to talking about the older Pfaffs - and DH remembered seeing one tucked into a corner at the Antique shop 50 miles away. I know we'd looked at it a few times and DH had not showed any interest, but now he KNEW what a 130 was, and we made the trip to look her over. I know this machine had been there for at least a year. We had been stopping at this place long before we started looking for sewing machine related items. She'd been marked down and DH brought her home for $22.50 with a case
She needed a new motor - and he had to replace some parts - but here she is, with her black backpack too! She's in a singer cabinet now - a nice sturdy cabinet! Dh says those German women must have been pretty strong to consider this machine a portable.
She's a brute of a machine. If you think older black Singers are heavy girls - give this one a lift LOL!!
OK - one man should be satisfied now - but no - you all got to talking about 201's. And then on our last trip, what does DH find, but a nice 201 in a case for $25! Of course he couldn't pass her up, and now she's got second place in his sewing lineup. I have my own 201, but he didn't want to share.
Yesterday, I caught him mumbling about "Janome" . . . I may have to lock him off this site!