I think a picture of the back of the machine would be useful. It seems to me that there should be some adjustment of the linkage that should solve the problem. However I don't have a 1200 in my collection to reference. In picture 4 the lever pulls down on the rod on the right which should be connected to the horizontal bar in the back and somewhere in that immediate area should be an adjustment point to shorten the vertical linkage thus causing the bar to raise further and lift the presser foot.