w1613s

I had been personally blessed (bought, inherited, etc,) with antique and vintage machines and then a friend came up with a Bernina 1630 whose quilter had died. The friend had the Bernina's identical twin. Both of the machines sew beautifully but both of them clack and clatter like crazy. My antiques and vintage machines don't do that. They purr.

The new noise in my sewing room made me pay attention to the sounds other machines were making. I listened on tv, at quilting workshops given by my guild, at classes given by quilting fabric stores - you get the idea. The newer machines all seemed to make varieties of loud noises.

I am a clean freak regarding the innards of my machines. Both my Bernina and its twin sister were taken to a reputable Bernina dealer and were checked, cleaned, lubricated, and tested because both of them made the same noises. When I couldn't clean/lube and get rid of the clack/clatter business, I snatched both my and my friend's machines and off they went to the Bernina doctor hoping he could find the problem, fix it, and return purring machines.

No go and no explanation of the noises. So, once again my question, do newer machines, assuming differences for make, etc., etc., no longer purr but clack and clatter instead? My friend died 6 months ago and left me her entire sewing room and all that is in it including my Bernina's twin (we will not discuss the probate situation where I live). There are some 5 or 6 machines she used and the lifetime stash, other equipment, etc. of a quilter. I have never heard any of her other machines "at work" and need to know what to expect from them. She left me her sewing room with instructions to gift most of it to new quilters and others who are just beginning to be involved with fabric arts and garment design and production. I need to know about the machines I will be getting into the hands of inexperienced sewers and they need to know how to keep them running well. And they need to know what "running well" is.

Thanks in advance and please forgive me for being wordy. It seemed you, ladies and gentlemen, needed to know the dynamics of the question so you could help me with the answer. (D'you like the excuse?)

Pat