Elna Carina Model 65 Air Electronic
 

I bought this one today. It's mostly metal and made in the early 80's. It's one of the last models Elna made in Switzerland. I spent a few hours working on it. There are only a few
problems with it. 1) it has one broken spool holder and it can't be repaired
easily. The actual material on the on the inside of the lid is damaged. But, I was able to repair
one spool holder, so I'm good to go. There were no accessories in the tray, but
I have quite a few from my Supermatics so am good to go. The case on it has a
slight break on the back so it doesn't latch well, so I have to use a bungee
cord to keep it shut:> And the bobbin extractor is missing.

But, it came with all 18 cams, cord and foot control and sews beautifully. I'm
impressed with it!

Anyone have this model?

That's my machine!!! Love it. Got it after using someone else's and it was so smooth. I don't use the cams much at all, and I can't get the buttonholes in right. But it just hums along. I have it in to a dealer only once in all the years I had it, and I think it ran better before it was cleaned! I think I had it about 30 years.

Cool! Do you remember what you paid for it 30 years ago?

Oh, I am so excited to see this post! I am considering buying something similar today. In a recent donation, I got a bunch of cams for an Elna, so I contacted the thrift store that got the rest of the donation to learn about the machine.

All they could tell me is that "It is white (Elna SU air electronic). It does have a pneumatic foot control. It does have an instruction manual."

They are asking $40. Does this sound like a good deal?

Thanks, and thanks for posting about your score!

From what I was told, this machine was about $1,500 new 30 years ago. I'd pay $40 for it, in good condition with a manual. Mine doesn't have a manual and has a few things that need attention. But, if it's the same model as this one, I don't think you can go wrong for $40, especially if you have the cams.

When I saw this machine, I wondered why mine has a white band where that one is black. On the inside of my instruction manual it says: "Note: The Elna models, classes 65 and 66, are supplied with 3 different colour schemes, ie with a black, red or white decorative band. The instruction manual is the same for all 3 versions and contains all the necessy information concerning adjustments and the operation of the machine." I got mine about 28 years ago after seeing it at a county fair in Pleasanton, CA. It has been a wonderful machine and I just started using the cams about a year ago.

I have an older ELNA than this and really have had no problems with it. Just keeps humming along. Have replaced 3 feet. Just wore out the points or whatever was down there that told it to go.

Altho my Elan is from 1998, I love it.....I wish I could find one of the 65or66 models.....

Interesting! I didn't know about the color banding. Mine is a model 65/Carina and I just assumed the different colors were different models. I have 3 other vintage elnas(the green ones) that use the same cams, so I'll be able to interchange them all which is great.

This one came with 18 cams including the one with the ducks which I've been wanting for some time, so that makes me happy:>

Well, I decided not to buy the Elna I viewed today. It was a 68, by the way. There was a woman at the thrift shop who was very knowledgeable about machines and she put it through its paces. She said it was very "sludgey" and needed a tune-up, although she said the motor sounded good. The zig-zag didn't work properly (hardly any zig, no matter what the setting) and the tension was off so that the fabric bunched a little, even with a straight stitch. She was willing to drop the price to $25, but estimated a tune-up would be $75-100. I just couldn't justify that.

Oh, well. Need any cams?

That's too bad...I live in N. CA too and I lived in the Napa Valley during my high school years. Small world. I would be interested in the cams if you can't use them. I'll PM you!

I do remember it was a lot of money and I did not ask my husband first!! Just bought it!!

I do not have this model but I have an Elna SU from 1973 and I would not part with it for anything. It runs so smooth and quiet compared to newer machines

Congrats, enjoy!

I still have my Elna SU Air Electronic that I bought 30+ years ago. I still have her because it is the first sewing machine that I paid big bucks for. She is light and very portable. Last summer DH asked me to make a cushion for his boat. I tried to make it on my Elna 7300 Quilting Queen Pro. The Queen balked at the job as she did not like stitching the vinyl and refused to sew the vinyl piping. So I brought in the SU to do the job and she did it without hesitation. The only part that I had to replace was the pneumatic foot control because it was "puppy chewed". For $40 I would buy another one.

Very nice! What did you name her?? :)

Ignorance is bliss, or so they say!
My GF had an Elna in the 70's but I have never heard of "cams?
Can someone please tell me/us?
Thanks

Heather, these are what they look like. Many vintage machines and manufacturers used external cams that you pop in and out for different decorative stitches. http://images.search.yahoo.com/image...mb=QugTSLM6i2y

Jane, my machines all have the same name..."sewing machine". I'm not one that gives them people names:> Hehe.

Hi, I'm new on here and not really a quilter but I seen this machine that I now presently own. Have been going crazy trying to find a manual and also...WOW really? 18 cams??? I have 1. Can anyone direct me for either? I would love to utilize this machine for all its worth!! Thanks so much for any information that you can add! Have a wonderful day!

I have probably 30 cams all combined. You can buy them on ebay or online. Whites Sewing Center/Ray White sells them. You can purchase a manual online also.

Hello Candace,

My friend has the same with a small book, I'm so glad! But from where the settings are of the machine with the cams to make diffrent stiches, it isn't there or I didn't find it jet. She have her Elna years, but she never used it and I saw it am thursday for the first time. Can and wil you help me, mabey kostet it less time, to sort it out. I'm so happy to found you!!!

i would love to find an older elna quilters pro model.... it was my favorite machine when i worked at a sewing machine store in the late 90's, early 2000's

I have the Elna Air Electronic. Pretty sure I bought it 1979 for a little over $1,000. I still have it in a cabinet. I now have the Elna 7300 quilting queen that I use now. The old Elna never failed and it was and is still a great machine. I guess I hold on to it just in case the one I use is in the shop or something.

Found my receipt awhile back and it looks like I paid $900 in 1985.

I do not have that Elna, but I DO have my mother's from 1965.

I think it may be on it's last legs but I really still like it.
If it dies, I have a White and a Kenmore...so am not totally unable to sew!

I have the Golden Jubilee version of this machine. I bought it new for around $900.00, but I don't remember what year. Unfortunately, the mother board is going bad, and can't be replaced. I've tried two different repairmen, and gotten the same story both times. It still sews, but is getting quirky. Last time I used it it just stopped sewing in the middle of a seam. Tried again several hours later, and it sewed again. So, not very reliable anymore.

I had this machine and it was a good machine I gave it to my neighbor. I paid $500 , plus when I purchased, back in the 80's. I now have 3 baby locks and love them. It was a very Ez machine to work, and any machine would most likely cost you $100 plus to clean and oil it. I will say not to many machines are built where that one was it was a good machine, and well worth it, depending on your budget, most sewing machine shop sell good used machines, some of witch they use for demo in there shops.

Terrific buy and thank you for sharing
Have a Blessed night
Ellen

For anyone still interested (it's 2014 and I notice the last comment was 2012) ... I have this machine and it indeed was $1000+ in 1974: the equivalent of $5000+ today! I wish it was $40 back then! Technology has changed everything...
I'm replacing the foot pedal, as it doesn't "re-puff" anymore ---I think that may be from lack of use since I haven't used it in about 2 yrs. Was quoted $40 at a sewing store but found it online new for $21. Maybe I should buy a "new" $40 one. It's nice and compact and except for the foot pedal has been very reliable for 40 yrs!

I have an elna SU. I got it in the early 70's. The only machine I use. I tried using my niece's once, it was plastic and I just couldn't do it. Are machines now days not made of metal? I LOVE my elna. I hope I have it forever! I found several websites devoted to them just by googling it. you can also view the manual online so you don't have to buy it.

I had this machine! It was a dream machine for the period! I loved it and used it for about 20 years off and on. Just sold it on ebay recently for about $125 I think - no accessories with it...couldn't find the books, cams etc. - Now I found them! Anyway...I paid $788. in 1979 for this machine. WOW I got a deal I think. I never took it in for a cleaning! Bad - yes?

Don't have that model but had their SU62 back in the 70's. Loved that machine and the fact it was basically all metal. Sold it when I got my Viking Designer1 and have been kicking myself ever since. Tried to buy it back for twice the money and the lady wouldn't part with it. Guess she knew what a gem she had.

Elna made a great machine back then. I have one of their sergers too and have never had trouble with it that wasn't my own doing.....basically threading it. Now I keep it for 3-thread only and picked up another serger for cover stitch. This way I don't have to rethread either one.

I don't have it but it is a beauty

What a beauty! Have fun with her!

I have an Elna Air Electronic 59. It doesn't have cams but does have different stitches. It came to me as a barter deal. I love it. I had to replace the foot pedal and it sews wonderfully.

Can you help me please.
 

Can you help me. I have a machine whereby you put the spools in teh top for the various programmes. However, I can't remember how the 3 dials on the front of the machine should be set because I can't find my manual. Any help would be great. Thanks. Jan

Welcome, bearsuk. If you have the 65, it looks like the left is the dial for the decorative stitches or for the cams (aka the stitch selector). The middle would be for the stitch width and the right would be for stitch length. I think it is interesting that the left one shows in red where the dial is set and not where the flat part is pointing to the setting. I couldn't find a free manual for this machine, but there is one that is similar, but with the knob pointing to the setting at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/37...lectronic.html
I also found a manual for download at https://manualsoncd.com/product/elna...achine-manual/ and a picture of the instructions for changing the cams/discs at https://manualsoncd.com/wp-content/uploads/319c.jpg If you click on the image, it will enlarge it.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
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