Can you help me find an Elna manual?
 

My SIL wanted to sell her Elna that she'd had for years so I bought it. The problem is that she doesn't have the manual... perhaps never did. But I need the manual to know how to thread it and thread a bobbin. I looked for a model # and couldn't find one. I looked at Ismacs but when I click on any Elna manual, some strange site opens up but doesn't tell me how to find a manual.... then, I don't know which model # to look for.

So, I feel helpless..... so let me know what you can. I do appreciate it.

Jean,
It seems the model is elnasuper.
http://irenedesign.blogspot.com/2012/05/elnasuper.html

Irene's blog shows some pictures of her super and I think it will help you to thread it. It does look weird. Good luck.

Roger

I have a Supermatic that looks very similar to yours. I found a manual at the yahoo group elnaheirloomsewingmachines:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/...ewingmachines/

Look at the plate where the power cord plugs into the machine. There should be a number. It's likely you're looking for the manual for a 62C or SU62C.

If you ever need parts you can't locate locally, you might be interested in http://www.whitesewingcenter.com/index.php

He's probably the expert around on Elnas and if you read around his site you'll probably learn more about your machine.

I had to replace the power cord on mine, but I did find it at a local shop for only $15.00. The good thing about Elnas is that the cams are interchangeable with the different machines, although the earliest ones won't accept the double cams.

Good luck and enjoy your new machine.

John

Thanks Roger and John. I'll try to join the yahoo group and see if there is a manual I can use. I don't have any cams other than the one that is in the machine but who knows, I might be able to find some at some point. Knowing that they are interchangeable helps.

I owned this machine for 40 years and just sold mine for parts, if you have questions I would be happy to help you out. (if I know the answers!)

Hi Jean... I have this exact same model. Just got it fixed, it's a fantastic machine. I've had it 20 years, this is the 2nd time I've ever had it serviced. Didn't use it much, but when I do, it runs like a champ.

The manuals for this machine actually come in two parts: an Instruction Manual and a Sewing Guide. The 1st covers the basics, the 2nd gets into nitty-gritty stuff like sewing 6 layers of corduroy, cams and stuff like that. As luck would have it, I have two copies of the Sewing Guide and I'd be happy to send it to you. My way of giving back to this wonderful site where I've gotten so much info. You can PM me your address. I would also be happy to include a few page of the Instruction Manual that cover the basics of threading, bobbin winding, etc. It's actually quite simple on this machine and once you get the hang of it, you won't forget. Also, you do indeed have the Elna Super model. Awesome machine!!

Ah, you have a model 62C without an automatic buttonholer. You have made a brilliant purchase of a machine that walks on water. Congratulations.

The model number and other technical info are on a plate under the hand wheel, on/off switch, etc. on the right side of the machine (as you face it.) To find original manuals for this machine get online and search for Elna Super
62C. If I remember the manual well enough, the information and instructions cover both the 62C that does not do automatic buttonholes as well as the 62C that does. Oh, and the "manual" comes in two books: one is red and the other is white.

I got into all of this when my much beloved automatic buttonhole making 62C needed the entire cam shaft replaced. The weeping and wailing would have caused the entire sewing community around my house to being food and sympathy. It was so bad that my daughter wiped my eyes, held the tissue while I blew my nose, and gave me her 62C with automatic buttonholes to keep forever and ever. I am still looking for a replacement cam shaft. Elna has gone through some vicissitudes and I find that they do not support this model. That means I am looking in sewing machine fix-it shops, online, etc. for a machine I can use for parts. And if anyone out there has a 62C that does automatic buttonholes and would like to sell it, I am interested. My preference is a parts machine. Anyway, forgive me, I digressed.

That version Elna, whether or not it makes automatic buttonholes, is marvelous. Mine went on tour with a drum corps for several years. It dressed my children. It repaired the tonneau cover for my husband's sports car and the covers for a couple of boats. It made clothes for my husband. It made clothes for me. It made all the draperies for our home. Sheets, alterations, you name it. I literally wore the paint off the machine. When I find the replacement part, I am going to be one of the happier women in the world. And I am going to find it. The machine has my feel to it and I want it back. The Bernina, etc. machines that I have been limping along with since my Elna died, will become back ups.

The way you tell the difference between the two machines is that yours has a stitch width knob that is oblong. The automatic buttonholer knob is square. Ta da.

Once more, you will love your new/old Elna. It does everything and more. I simply cannot say enough good about it. It is the last manual machine Elna made, as far as I know.

If I can help, please email me.

Pat

That is an Elna SU62. It was my first real sewing machine back in the 70's for me. Had to take a loan out for it but it was worth it. Never saw the inside of the a repair shop and I can't remember ever oiling it or cleaning out the bobbin area but I must have. It traveled to 2 other states with me and I finally sold it when I purchased my Designer 1 machine as I thought I didn't need 2 machines. Boy was I wrong. Tried to buy it back from the lady I sold it to and she wouldn't even take double the money she paid me............obviously she fell in love with it too.

Sorry can't help you with the manual but I'm sure someone here can direct you to it. Its a great machine or at least mine was. I still miss it and tried to find another one online at Ebay but they obviously knew the value of the machine as they were asking a ransom for it. I declined to buy it.

I don't know if I remember it right or not, but when Elna went through the changes they sold all parts to the older machines to some parts dealer. It could have been Tocony Corp.

It is soooooooo good to see an Elna entry on this board. I have owned Elnas since my first one in 1959 or 60. I traded in a Morse that I had won in a contest while I was in college on an Elna Supermatic, tan, free-arm (the first one I had ever heard of) with the carrying case side that fit over the free-arm to make it a flat surface to sew on if you didn't like the free arm. The DD owns that one now and uses it for mending..... DH bought me a brand new one in a cabinet--an ex-DIL owns it now because in 1985 or so the DH went wild in Austin and bought me the complete works from a friend of ours who owned the Elna dealership--Elnita Lock serger, ironer, TOL Elna in a TOL cabinet that is to this day my very favorite sewing machine. Never seen the inside of a repair shop, but I am very conscious of cleaning, threading just right, using only the Elna bobbin s, all the right things to do to a sewing machine. It is still whisper quiet--the standard by which all my other machines have to live by--and mostly used ONLY BY ME. I have lots of other machines that I let friends and kin use; and am happy that they mostly prefer Singers because I have a lot of old black Singers.

My advice to the person who has recently acquired the Elna, when you load your bobbin, be sure the holes are up; and when you insert it into the bobbin holder, and pull the thread around, be sure to listen for that little "click" which tells you that it is correctly inserted.