Does anyone know how much a Bernina 630 costs? When you go to the Bernina website, they don't give you the prices. someone is selling a used 630 and I need to know the original cost.

Check on ebay.

I bought a Bernina 1230 used with several different feet. A fellow quilter had the 1260 and she loved hers plus I got such a GREAT buy with the feet. It came with a old horn cabinet but I didn't need it and it was real unsteady so gave it away. I really do love it...and when I think of buying a newer model I ask why when this one does everything I need it to. I would love to get a plexi glass insert cut so that the throat plate area would be level with the top of the sewing machine cabinet for machine quilting. I bought a piece of plexiglass a couple of years ago and heard that it was so hard to cut I never got around to cutting it. Figuring out the pattern for where the plexiglass would go wasn't an easy chore either :roll: Definitely love my Bernina!

My Bernina is over 30 years old. She is just a basic machine, nothing fancy but she is a work horse, and has been well loved. All she has ever gotten is a good cleaning between projects to get the dust bunnies out. I always give a :thumbup: to bernina for such a good machine.

I'm prepared to be corrected on my attitude toward this question, if anyone can explain my misunderstanding of this situation, but here goes:
My understanding is that most sewing machine brands are owned by holding companies these days. The machines are generally manufactured in China, in the one factory, and re - badged. This is especially true for the sergers. There are low - end and high - end designs in each brand, and you get what you pay for. I would prefer the Bernina because it is still a privately owned company and it is only the two low - end Bernina models that are made in China. Having said that, I don't own a Bernina or a Janome. I have Babylock, Pfaff, Brother and Husqvarna. The only one I'm disappointed with is the Pfaff as I have a communication problem between it and the computer so my embroidery section is limited.

i got my New Home (Janome) over 25 years ago after test driving bernina, pfaff and everything else. my dealer sold both and told me that any parts for the bernina would take a long time to bring over, so i got the new home. aside from maintence, is has never been in the hospital. never. it hums like a baby. the plastic body is scratched, it doesn't look new, but it still embroiders without missing a stitch and does more stitches than i'll ever use. i love it to death. i bought the gem for traveling and another gem for my dd. i also have a viking 1+ which i like a lot, but nothing beats my new home/janome. if it dies tomorrow, i would replace it with another janome. if my viking died i might get a bernina. the parts are easy to get now.

Looks like you are getting a lot of info. I have an old Bernina 830 from the 60's. I've made sails for sail boats, boat covers, leather straps on my sandals and a moire taffeta and lace wedding gown for my daughter. It just sewed everyting and has wonderful stitching. I used to do a lot of machine embroidery with it. It doesn't have an embroidery module, but it was hand guided. It could do everything and I only took it in about once a year for yearly maintenance. It ran great. When the BSR came out, I was finally tempted to get a new Bernina 440 QE. I would never give up my old one, but the new one is just as good. I love the needle down and all the other new features that came out after the old 830. The new machine is just as sturdy as my old one. I really couldn't afford either Bernina, but bought them both on time payments. The new one was 0% interest if paid in one year. I wouldn't have anything but a Bernina. They are both heavy, but I have used a featherweight for classes. But I do take my Bernina on vacations. They are so smooth, easy to operate and I have never had any problems with either. They really are worth the money. Believe me, I've had other machines.
Verna

I bought a Janome cuz the price was cheaper but the throat was larger. I looked at both and there were probably other factors but its been more than 4 yrs since I bought it.

My friend bought her Bernina at the same time I got my Janome6500 and she told me later that she wished she had gotten the 6500 or 6600 instead.

We get what we want at the time, based on price, requirements etc. I'm sure there are many happy Bernina owners here too.

Warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

I love Berninas....love the way the sew, feel, and how solid they are.

I was replacing a Singer from the late 80s that was nothing but trouble. I lived in a small town in South Carolina and the only machine dealer for 70 miles was the local quilt shop. She sold Berninas,I bought a 1031. I still have it and its still a great machine even after nearly 19 years.
It was great to have a machine that sewed without problems.

that is just what I was thinking, no chevy for me now. plus my BIL is a repair man and he said to get the bernina if at all possable, so that is what I got

I bought a Bernina 440QE in August and I love it! It sews beautiful and I love the way the feet attach...very easy! I tried the New Horizon, but I just didn't like it as much and I felt like I would have more support from the shop with the Bernina and I haven't been disappointed in that either.

Good luck to you! It's such a big decision when you are spending that kind of money!

I had a Bernina a few years ago - at the time it was top of the line and it was a piece of s........ i couldn't even make buttonholes on a wool jacket!!! It would not sew through 2 thickness of wool plus interfacing - some machine!!

darlene

P.S. I have heard from an expert in all the machine, Viking, Phaff, Bernina, etc. that Babylock is your best bet.

Which model was this?

I have always sold and used Bernina's. It is still made in Switzerland and is far superior to other machines in what it does. Now that being said, it just depends on what you want to do. I sold more machines when I taught at Stretch and Sew making tiny button holes in tricot gowns, etc. The other women could not do that and just hated it. The stitch quality is supurb. I think the embroidery is excellent, but understand the Brother and maybe Janome do a very good job on embroidery also. It really depends on how much money you have for your toys. I did not buy the newest one as I really think my 200 is supurb and I refuse to spend $12,000 on a sewing machine. More than my long arm machine. Happy hunting.

Peg-TX
Innova 18"

Aaaacckkkk!!! $12,000? Which machine goes for that? I know the new Bernina 830s are $8,000+. Wow! I got my floor model 640 three or four years ago with the embroidery module, the walking foot and a BSR(which I never use) for $5,000.

The 830 Bernina is On sale in Australia for $12999...and the software costs $1999 as there is a $500 discount for Christmas....

maybe you just got a lemon...

I totally agree. I have the Janome 9700--it is both an embroidery and regular sewing machine. The price was too good to pass up. I have the machine over 4 years now and it works just great. I do take it in annually for a good cleaning and have never had any problems with it.

I started this post and it is interesting to see the passion we all have for our sewing machines. I think price will be my deciding factor. I don't think I can afford a Bernina and I can buy another Janome locally.

Thanks for all your import but I think I have made my decision

The first year I went to QBL in the 80s I had to rent a machine from Diana Marshall of Gloversville. I had an old Kenmore at home - way too heavy to carry.
I fell in love with the Bernina 1030 and bought it from her at a good discount when the week was done. It is still my quilt room workhorse, and I still love her.
I also have a Jem Platinum for workshops, And, a Jem Gold that I leave at my son's home to sew there when I visit.
All three are good machines.
If I ever needed to buy a new workhorse - it would again be a Bernina.

I have the original Bernina 830 (oldie but goodie) and last year I got a Bernina 440QE. I love them both. Years ago, I bought the little bitty Jamone for classes since the Bernina is so heavy. However, I was not pleased with the quality of the stitches; so got a featherweight for classes. My selection of the 440QE was made because of my experience with the older Bernina and the closeness of a Bernina dealership to have it serviced.

I love my Bernina 730 E...it does beautiful embroidery and quality stitches. The front loading bobbin is actually a plus if you embroider a lot or use the machine on a FMQ frame. The BSR feature is the icing on the cake. Bernina accessories are quite expensive, though.
My MIL has a embroidery Janome Memory Craft 8000, it is a very nice machine and the embroidery arm is far less bulky than other machines' embroidery attachments.

Where can I find where my Bernette was made?

IDH just bought me a Bernina 440 Aurora & that is my only complaint is the throat space. I don't know what they were thinking when they made this machine, especially since this is supposedly a quilter's edition. They should have allowed more throat space, I agree

Google it. Several threads say they're made in Thailand for Bernina to resell as a low end machine.

The older Pfaffs (10+ yrs > older) WERE all metal, German-designed & made, great quality machines. THEN, they were bought by Viking and made in Sweden. Still OK. THEN they evidently changed manuf. to Eastern Europe & Asia. I had a 25 yr old mech. Pfaff but thought I needed all the newest features. Bought a new one on impulse 3 yrs ago and was totally disappointed. Stupid me, checked the plate & found it was made in the P.R. of Czechoslovakia. ?? Lots of problems and it sewed NOTHING like the older Pfaffs. So much for German Engineering!

So many of the quilting experts - Nancy, Liz, Eleanor are using Baby Lock.

So what does everyone think about this one as they have all dropped Bernina.

They haven't dropped Bernina due to the machine quality if that's what you're suggesting. The advertising $ has come from a different manufacturer is all. Commercials and ads mean very little to me.

When I was looking for a new machine I tested them at a dealer that sold both machines. She told me it the difference between a Cadillac and a Ford. I bought a 640 Bernina Artista and absolutely love it. I am now looking to upgrade to the 830. My old Bernina was about 35 years old with a lot of miles but still runs great.

This is funny. I drive a Ford, but would only sew on a Bernina!!

I started this discussion and love the passion. Last night I tried to hem jeans on my Janome Gem it would not sew through the thickness. I have a 35 yr old Kenmore and it will sew through anything. It needs cams to do special stitching but I have made the decision to keep it for heavy work and purchase a used Janome one step up from what I have because I don't have any decorative stitching which I will us in my camper and to take to classes. I already have a buyer for the Janome I have. The reason I am going to get a Gem Platinum is that all the accessories I have will fit that one as well.

Thank you for all your help

Be sure to post pictures of your new baby.

I have had no trouble with all the Janome Machines I have had and thought it best to stay with the type that I know and trust.I do have a Brother1500D and will learn to drive it after Christmas has passed. I will have more time to learn how to use it.

My Horizon was made in Japan not China...

That was discussed in this thread....

BSR was a big factor for me.

Whenever this topic comes up I always wonder why people feel putting down one machine brand somehow proves that the other is better. All it really does is put those that own the other brand on the defense.

As much as I love my Bernina and would recommend anyone try them out, I understand everyone doesn't like the same thing. I would never be so bold to suggest what I own is the best, and someone else's machine was second class.

My suggestion to anyone looking for a new machine is figure out what features are most important to you, go look at machines with those features and buy the one that you like the best.

[/quote]

The older Pfaffs (10+ yrs > older) WERE all metal, German-designed & made, great quality machines. THEN, they were bought by Viking and made in Sweden. Still OK. THEN they evidently changed manuf. to Eastern Europe & Asia. I had a 25 yr old mech. Pfaff but thought I needed all the newest features. Bought a new one on impulse 3 yrs ago and was totally disappointed. Stupid me, checked the plate & found it was made in the P.R. of Czechoslovakia. ?? Lots of problems and it sewed NOTHING like the older Pfaffs. So much for German Engineering![/quote]

When I bought my Pfaff 7130 about 8 years ago I was told that it and the others in the same line were the last that were going to be made with metal parts and in Germany/Sweden. Others in the same line were the 7150 and 7170. That's one reason I have hung on to it and didn't trade it when I got my next machine.

My Bernina dealer sells both!
Here is what she tells her customers....think about how long you THINK you will be around using it. think about WHAT you will be wanting to do with it. Think about how much money you THINK you will be putting into the add ons, after the initial purchase.

If you are young, or have a family full of sewers to leave your Bernina too, then by the Bernina. If you are older, or have only YOU in the family that sews, then get a Janome.

If you have unlimited amounts of money to spend on extra feet, attachments, lessons, etc, buy a Bernina, if your are limited on how much you can add on to the machine, get the Janome.

If it is for a second machine, to compliment a bigger/heavier machine that you want to take to classes or travel with, get a Janome. She does not recommend the Bernette for any reason...says it is nothing buy trouble.

If you want to spend hours learning ALL that the machine can do and you will put all that learning to use, then get a Bernina, if you want to sew, do some thread play and some quilting with little learning curve, get a Janome.

Janome parts are now interchangable with Elna and Kenmore machines as well.

I have the older Bernina 830 and just love it, I have taught classes on the New Berninas and they are not for everyone...I also have a Janome Gem for classes...LOVE IT....