Life expectancy of a sewing machine
 

What do you consider a reasonable useful life expectancy for a sewing machine?

It depends on the sewing machine. Some of the older machines from the turn of the last century are still going strong. I have a couple of Singers from the early 50s that have a beautiful stitch and work great. These machines have metal gears and of course no electronics. They were built to last. I purchased my Viking about 15 years ago. It gets a lot of use and I’ve had no problems with it. However, I don’t expect it to last as long as my vintage machines. Most modern machines have plastic gears and other parts and I’m sure the electronics have a limited lifespan. Also, a lot depends on how you care for your machine and regular servicing. You also need to consider whether it’s a low end or high end machine.

My Viking Rose, a workhorse, died electronically after about 12 years. She is sorely missed! My Viking 100, mechnical with all metal parts, bought in the 1970s, is still going strong. I have an Elna now and know her days are limited.

Love vintage machines, as they will outlive many generations if cleaned and oiled. Want to spend lots of money on plastic and computerized machines? That's fine, too, if you go into it knowing the life expectancy of those will never reach a fraction of all mechanical made machines. Just my opinion!

I too have vintage Singers (the oldest from 1918) that all sew perfectly. My Bernina 1530 (my "newest" machine) is 26 years old and also runs works perfectly. BUT based upon the way things are made today and my personal experience with current major appliances, I'd guess you'd be lucky to get 10 years out of one of today's sewing machines.

I'm in with the vintage crowd. My old Singers may not have some of the fancy stuff that the newer, electronic machines have, but they go and go and go. They stitch so beautifully and they just feel good when you sew on them. All of my machines have lasted several lifetimes.

Like others....the vintage ones will last longer than most peoples lifetimes. The newer ones...not so much. Most sewing machines are actually "sewing computers" so I think the life span is somewhat similar to regular computers. Maybe a bit longer Manufacturers will stop making the computer boards after a period of years and new parts will no longer be available. That is a good question to ask the repair tech for the brand you are considering buying. But, bells and whistles are developed and come out all the time. I wish I had held on to some of more simple machines I had years ago...cuz..they are great to have as a backup, travel, take to class, or even everyday sewing and quilting machine. I like have one fancy machine though...for those fun things like doing embroidery or fancy stitching on a bag or wall hanging.

I bought a Bernina in 2001 and it's going strong and has never had to be fixed. I also have old Singers that are wonderful.
My new Bernina is only a year old so I can't comment on that. I'm saving my old Bernina for my granddaughter when she's older and if she likes to sew.
My very first machine, a Kenmore was gifted to me by my Dad and I love that one. It still runs well and no fixes ever. That one is about 40 years old and I used it exclusively until I got my first Bernina.

I had a Bernina 180 that lasted all of 11 years before a circuit board failed and it was not repairable (at least not affordably nor with any warranty). It was well-maintained and not abused so it pretty much turned me off to buying another expensive "flagship" machine.

30 years seems reasonable to me... tho I have vintage machines that are way older than that and still going strong. I have a Juki 2010Q which is newer but all mechanical. I don't buy anything computerized. The computer parts just don't last long, it seems.

I have a Pfaff 7550 (electronic) that I bought in 1996 and it sews beautifully. I also have a Singer treadle machine that was built in 1915 and handed down for several generations. My pride and joy is a Pfaff ICON. I think these machines will last a long time if they are properly taken care of.

I think it depends on how well built the sewing machine is, and if it is digital. The digital ones don't seem to last at all. My older machines (32 and at least 12 years old) are mechanical and still working. My "youngest" machine was digital and died at age 8. Those computer parts just don't seem to last.

My brother xl3010 is 26 years, my walmart brother sq9050 is 9 years, my brother xl3500i is 13 years, my dreamweaver 6200d is 8 years all of these machines are in great shape no issues so to me its how much you take care of the machine that matters. I feel mechanicals should last many years. If I get 20 years out of my computerized machine I will be happy but I'm sure by then I will have upgraded my dreamy. But still paying on my long arm

I have machines from 1918, 1926, 1929, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1956 and 1973 still going strong. The 1973 Elna 62C has a nylon gear that if it becomes lopsided from non use will end its usefulness. I just use mine regularly and so far so good. The others are all metal and I expect they will outlast me. I have had to replace a few belts, a few bobbin winder wheels and a tension spring on one Singer 301.

I have a number of vintage machines that are perfect work horses that I use all the time. My oldest is a 1905 treadle that does the job all the time and great when there are power outages and allows me to stay busy day in and day out. Then there are the Featherweights and several others that are made with metal parts and will out live a number of my other machines I am sure of that. I have had 2 brothers machines that have failed and I have to figure out if they are worth repairing. Right now I am using my 1984 Janome and it works great! It has a hiccup once in awhile but nothing big and at keeps on going. So it is going now for 36 year. IMO a good 20-30 years should be the life time of a good machine if made in the 80+'s because of plastic parts. Newer machines I am not sure of and my vintage machines will last forever with good care.

I have both vintage machines and newish ones. My vintage machines are, of course, still running strong. I have a 25 year old Bernina that I love and pray that it keeps running for a while longer. My newest one is a Juki QVP 2200 Mini. I've only had it a year and a half so far so good.

I really think it depends on how much use it gets. My Bernina was my only machine for 20 years. It got a ton of use. Now that I have 7 machines, no machine gets used a lot so I'm hoping for more longevity. One thing to keep in mind is that computerized machines will only last as long as the electronics. Same goes with cars.

Like most others I have both types, mechanical and electronic/computerized. I have only had 2 SM that ever failed. Both were my vintage mechanical ones, a Singer 648 and a Brother 622. Sadly, they both died of cracked gears in the last few years. They each gave decades of service to me and their previous owners, so not complaining at all.
I have had computerized/electronic machines since 1990 or so, and happily, none of those have ever needed work or failed in any way. I don't expect anything near the 50 year lifespan of those 2 older ones, but amazingly 15-20 years actually seems fairly common, as there are loads of 1990-2000's machines still sewing along, including my own. I would not pay much for a 20 year old one, or ask much for one I was selling, as much of its lifespan has likely been used up, but many are definitely still quietly humming along, so this is probably quite variable.
For me, SM seem to outlast all other household devices, from dishwashers and microwaves to laptops and cell phones. Yay!

100 years or so. If your machine is taken care of it should last a long time, in less it’s an inexpensive plastic one that may not hold up - although my granddaughters have $89 Brother machines they’ve been using for 15+ years - making purses, pillows, clothes, toys.

Hullo, cashs mom, I’m a newly joined person who is bound to make lots of mistakes asking questions that have already been answered twenty times, but searching for “Juki” came across your owning the 220QVP Mini, and wondered how you are getting on with it? I have had the now superseded TL98P for years and absolutely love it but want to upgrade mainly to get the speed control capability; it may seem extravagant to upgrade from a perfectly good machine (I feel like a traitor to my beloved old workhorse!), but that speed control would make such a difference to me - I do a lot of free motion and regulating the speed is just an added strain that would be great to have done for me. I’m dithering between the TL2010Q and the Mini and wondered what you thought, what made you choose the Mini? I don’t need the extra feet that come with it, I’ve got most of them although I think there’s an upgraded walking foot?? Other than that, do you think there’s any difference between the two? Forgive me if I’m asking you a lot of questions that you don’t know the answer to, but thought it worth checking?! Thanks!
Lalla

My Elna 500 isn’t a vintage machine, bought her new in 1983, but at 38 years old she is still a workhorse.

Whatever you buy, it helps a lot if you have a good machine tech around to send your machine in for a tune up every year or two. A good tech can keep your machine in tip top condition for a lot longer.

A life time
i have a 1956 singer that sews like a dream and I have a 20 year old Viking( bought new 20 years ago) I expect it to last forever. It might not, but I try to take care of it so it will last me as long as I’m still sewing. I find the idea of having to purchase a new machine very daunting. My Longarm I did upgrade/ buy a new one 5 or 6 years ago. Now I’m hoping that is it- will last the rest of my life

I have a Singer treadle machine that is over 10 years old and it sews beautifully. I also have a Pfaff that I bought in 1996 and it's going strong too. My ICON is less than a year old and I sew almost every day on it. I don't think the electronic machines will last 100 years like the treadle machine has but they are made with plastic parts and not metal ones.

I love old, solid, sewing machines that are made of metal and do not have any computer electronics. Almost all of my machines are older then me, (I qualify for Medicare,) and still going strong. I have a 1910 Singer treadle and many other machines from that date on. I love the mechanical nature of my machines...the way they move, the gleam of the metal and definitely the way that they sew. I'm able to maintain them myself, although they never need it, so there are no expensive repair bills.

Such an interesting topic. I love all my machines, vintage and computerized. My first computerized machine was a Janome Memory Craft 3500 that I bought in 2003. Still use her and she is still going strong. My big plunge was the Janome 9400 and I just love all the bells and whistles - automatic thread cutter, low bobbin indicator, lights - all of it make it a real treat to sew. However, I am 64 so if my computerized machine bites the dust, I will probably buy another. If I were younger, would I make the same decision? I don't know. My 1936 Singer Featherweight has a slogan - You could use it for a lifetime, give it to your daughter and then to her daughter. In this day and age, there probably is not a machine that could even begin to compare to that slogan. Those vintage machines are just amazing.

I’ve got a 1930s Singer that belonged to my mother, and a 1905 chain stitch machine that belonged to my ex-mother-in-law’s mother who had it in Burma!! I don’t think any such machine exists now, does it? It’s a funny little round thing, like a sort of wheel. It only does chain stitch. My ex-mother-in-law’s sister, aged in her early twenties, made on it a dress for herself to go to a ball. She walked out onto a sort of gallery overlooking the ballroom, where guests were formally announced, caught a hem on something and unravelled the whole thing, and stood there in her underwear, threw out her arms and said “Well, here I am!!!”
I now own a relatively ancient Juki TL98P and am about to take the plunge and acquire either the 2010Q or the 2200QVP Mini, but here in Hong Kong the finding of a UK machine - HK has the same voltage/plug system as the UK but the machines come from either the US or Japan, and I don’t think transformers are the way to go - is problematic. I’m desperate for the speed control addition to my old warhorse! I too love non-computerised machines, and do a lot of free motion ‘drawing’, so would never go for anything other than an upgrade to my beloved Juki.

For me, a vintage will last a lifetime and beyond, simply because of the craftsmanship involved. Back then, it was all cast iron and metal, nowadays, everything is aluminum and plastic. My sister has our mother's sewing machine, a Singer before it was called Singer and while it is in desperate, desperate need of a good cleaning and service, it still runs. My guess is early 50s.

My Dressmaker is at least 45 years old and after some TLC from me and my serviceman, she runs like a champ and purrs like a kitten. I never, never give up on a machine pre-1980.

I now have a computerized machine and while I believe it's well-built, I know that she won't last as long as my Dressmaker or my mother's machine, even though I clean her religiously and oil the correct spots when its time. Because of the longevity issue with her, I may just keep her to simple sewing tasks and piecing my quilts, but anything heavier than that, I'll take it to my Dressmaker, including free motion quilting.

I've always had the belief that when you buy a sewing machine, no matter what you're buying it for, it's an investment. If you learn everything you can about your machine, do the simple task of cleaning it regularly, oiling it when it needs, taking it to a serviceman at least yearly for a tune-up and not push the limits of the machine itself, you can expect your machine to exceed the actual lifetime. If you don't take care of it and expect it to handle something that only industrial machines can handle, then you're only to fault because you didn't take care of it properly.