Mickey2

There are two white plastic gears in the 500 to 700 series (I'm not quite sure of the early production 500s); the gear that turns the cam stack and I've noticed one under the top of the free arm in connection with the rod that turns the hook and race. They can get damanged, I have seen it, but I have aslo seen lots of old machines intact after half a century of average domestic use. These gear are available, I'm not sure how easy the repair is. The 800 and 900 series have even more plastic gears.

The all metal gear factor is why I so want an early zigzagger. There is a nice Husqvarna zigzag and there is the Pfaff 130, but I have my eye on Bernina ;- ) Is it as smoth as Singer 201?

Manalto

That's a tall order and I think you're bound to be disappointed. Can a zigzagger ever be as smooth as a 201? You might want to consider a 206 (if you don't already have one). They're charming machines and do only zigzag - no bells, whistles, cams or internal camstacks. Not as smooth as a 201 of course, but they have that solid performance of the black-and-gold Singers that instills confidence. I have a Pfaff 130 and think they're a wee bit over-rated. Good machines, but the bight control is a little wonky, on mine at least.

Since my last posting, I did a little snooping around for the earlier (500 and 600 series) Berninas. Not many to choose from, but the ones I saw were priced, shall we say, optimistically. Maybe the Favorit usually commands a high price, the same as the Record. (I'm probably botching my naming of the models terribly; I have much to learn about the Berninas) Good for them. I admire quality that endures for half a century and still has an avid following.

Mickey2

Prices on the Berninas vary a lot, and if you can wait it out a bit one is bound to turn up. They are worth trying and if you have too many machines and end up not using it, just pass it on, there are usually someone who needs it. Sellers often want premium price and buyers a bargain. Top prices don't sell easily, but I guess you should find one for around $60 at anytime, even less if you can wait. I have seen them go for sell for around $120-180, but then they are usually newly serviced. If I'm not sewing very fast these Bernias are very smooth and of the least noisiest zigzaggers around.

lovelyl

How easy is it to get parts for the models you mentioned? For me, that would be a factor in my decision also.

Manalto

This is yet another reason for wanting to look at the earlier models and avoid electronic machines.

Battle Axe

I agree. Avoid those boards in case we get a pulse blast. The last mechanical ones that they made were the 1020 and 1030. I love the needle up always. I've had 5 or 6 of the 1020s when I had the rug shop. I bought school machines off ebay and I think they had a lot of sand or just plain dirty. I had bought one brand new when it was considered an outdated model. I kept one for myself when I retired. I think that is the one I still have. They run about 400-600 used on ebay. Be real careful to get one that is guaranteed to work and had the foot control. I would not get one out of Florida. Too much flooding, hurricanes.

The best thing about them and one think is mentioned here is that they will still sew sick. I had to stay away from Coats and Clark thread, but it loved Guttermans. I would not be afraid of a real old "mechanical" Bernina.

Mickey2

I've only had a 1960s 730 for keeps, for years now. It sews fine, absolutely not fuzzy when it comes to thread, Coats, Gütermann, Aurifil, cotton, polyester, linen, metallic, pearl embroidery yarn (special large hole needle). If these machines are fuzzy with thread I suspect they need a good clean or adjustments.

I bought some thread in the local sewing shop today, and there were a 707 Minimatic for sale. It looked slightly smaller than my 730, both 1960s models, in good working condition, not sure if it was recently serviced or just recently handed in, they asked $180 for it. That's the same price as all the much newer and more or less computerized models they had on the used machine shelf.

Candace

I hate to tell you but the 1020 has a good amount electronics in it. The 930 has some too….machines are given the label 'mechanical' all the time that have some or quite a bit of electronics in them.

Manalto

I looked at a 730 a couple of years ago that was on Craigslist, but (uncharacteristically for me) didn't buy it. Everything was there, perfectly organized and in pristine condition; they even had that two-level table that goes with it. I don't recall the price exactly, but I think it was around $250. Berninas don't frequently show up here in New England, so now I'm thinking I should have grabbed it. Every time I drive by the house of the seller, I think, "I should ring the doorbell and see if they still have that Bernina."

Candace

I own 2 730s and they're great machines. I bought them needing new gears. They did not come with the nifty attachment bin that you're talking about as they were in tables. :< The attachments and feet are worth their weight in gold. Brand new replacement feet are $40 each at a Bernina dealer! So, if you can get a machine with a bunch of feet it's really like money in the bank. Those feet could be sold for a good amount at any time and would likely pay for the machine.