Friar_Tuck

Would like some input from you all. I have really come to appreciate my Pfaffs. I have a couple 130s, and one 130 with the embroidery attachment. Now I am thinking of what to look for next. I want something with the free arm. I am looking at possibly another iron beast, but don't really need the fancy stitches. I would like to have close to the power of the 130. The 1222e has me curious. Are they close to as sturdy as the older ones? I live in the middle of nowhere and do all my buying online, so handling them is out. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jim

OurWorkbench

Jim, I have an early 1222, that wasn't sewing straight. I did a bunch of research about the machine. I got it to sew straight, but had to time it. It sewed okay for a bit, but then it went out again. From my understanding there is a plastic cam that has a tendency to crack. There are replacements available for a $$. From my understanding the cam doesn't come with a shaft and so would need to keep the old one. I didn't find how to replace it. I think there are some other plastic bits that tend to crack, too. If it is just the top one, I have heard that you can remove it and still be able to stitch straight stitch and zigzag.

Those that have 1222s in working order are happy with them.


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

Mickey2

The freearm models became more common after WWII, among the first were Elna and Bernina. I think Husqvarna had an early one too. Elna 1 is a portable all metal straight stitcher, and I guess you should be able to find an early freearm Pfaff with a bit of effort. If you find one, there's a good chance it's made by Bernina or Elna. It took Pfaff a few years to get their factory back after the war, and by the 1950s plastic was the new material and everybody seemed to jump for it with enthusiasm, like it was obligatory.

That said, there are probably a few all metal models out there. Pfaff 260 and 360 come in slightly different versions, but I think some of them are all metal, or mostly metal. They are sturdy machines, with extra amps to the motor. I don't know too much about the variations on them, but they are well worth taking a second look at. These are aluminium bodied machines. I have never seen a cast iron freearm model, I know one existed very early on, but the more moderns zigzaggers are far and few between until the 1950s.

leonf

[ATTACH=CONFIG]600125[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]600126[/ATTACH]

Pfaff's have unusual connections [ATTACH=CONFIG]600127[/ATTACH]

I don't have mine dialed in yet. but they look neat.

sorry I can't figure out how to delete the flatbed.

bkay

Leon, it's too late to delete the photo now. I think you only have a few minutes to edit a post.

In the future, click on "Go advanced". [ATTACH=CONFIG]600128[/ATTACH]Then scroll down to "manage attachments". It sometimes shows your photo attachments. Sometimes, you have to click on "manage attachments" to get them to show. Then, you just "remove" the ones you don't want to show in your post. [ATTACH=CONFIG]600129[/ATTACH]

(I had to use that function to remember how to do it, so I'm seeing those links that go nowhere. It appears as if QB has developed a glitch. You can remove the photo, but not the link. It used to remove the link, too. But I used to add photos only under the "go advanced" function, so I'm not sure that it removed the link using the icon.)

bkay

leonf

OK
thanks, Bkay. Now if I were just smart enough to choose the right pictures in the first place...

Mickey2

Your 332 looks very good leonf, is the color metallic? The dead flat grey finish is the only thing I don't like on the older Pfaffs, some have an effect to the enamel paint that makes it a bit nicer. I guess that's why I ended up with a Phoenix freearm in stead, nice green finish, but it still needs a bit of work to work properly.

shasta5718

I have a 1222 not the e, just the 1222. My husband bought it for me in 1970, and I have been using it since then and have sewn everything from levi's to recovering boat cushions and it is still going strong.