Originally Posted by
Mickey2
Oh, I see. I didn't realize the model difference. After seeing one of these in action I fell for it and looked it up on the web. I actually never knew model number at the time. It's all promising info on them, and I still want one :- )
I don't know for how long they were in production, probably introduced in 1938. Bernina managed to introduce their first free arm zigzagger of much lighter build just before the war ended in 1944, and in those years most sewing machine makers lacked machinery.
From what I remember of my conversation with the Bernina dealer, I thought she said production of the 117 ended before the war began.
There are some good historical informational sites online about Bernina and their machines. I believe I remember reading that their numbers went from the 117 to the 125 model. I think the numbering guys played drunken darts with random num bers and whichever number was hit and the dart stayed that was the next model number. I think these dart games happened at the annual Christmas bash after the wives were dismissed to go to the parlour and talk about the fashion things of their days. Just my theory anyway and it amuses me.