Hi All, I'm new to this board. I have the opportunity to buy a Bell Sewing machine which seems to be a badged Phoenix 429 as it is identical to Cecilia's. Bell made sewing machines in the US, most notably a collectible portable, but it appears that they decided to have Baer & Rempel badge this machine for them. I have picture of the machine, should I post it? The seller says it doesn't run. The cords look taped so maybe it's just that, but there could be other stuff wrong with it too. I'm wondering how hard it will be to get parts for. What kind of needle and bobbin does it take? Thanks in advance. -- Sheila

that is one nice piece! very nice indeed.... love it... I envy you .

Here's the Bell sewing machine that looks identical to Cecilia's Phoenix.
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it does look just like the Bell!

I noticed some small differences -- like Cecilia's has two little buttons on the bed in front of a little lever near the pillar. The Bell has the lever but not those little buttons. I wonder what they are for. The Bell has something engraved on the bed slide but I can't read it. I looked around the internet and found a very similar machine where I could read it. It is an engraving of a needle and underneath the needle it says "Syst. 1738". I looked that up, and they are industrial needles that are widely available. That machine was in a completed auction on ebay. The seller described it as a "Pfaff 130 on steroids". It sold for a "best offer"of around $500! (I estimated the price by sorting the list by "highest first", and then I could see the prices of the machines before and after it in the list. Ebay doesn't disclose the amount of a "best offer".) I wonder if that was a fluke, because I couldn't find another machine like it on ebay. I think I might buy this broken Bell and see if I can get it working.

Sheila,

Those two 'buttons' are just magnets. I have some wonderful small magnets which I keep on all my sewing machines, for pins, mini scissors.

Our machines appear identical.

How much are they asking for it?

Please do not use $500 as your comparison though... It is hard to believe that one sold for that amount!

Keep us posted!

p.s. Sheila, if you want any info again in the next short while, Private Message me as opposed to/in addition to posting, because I will not be logging onto my fun-sew-time-sucking sites because I am on a deadline with work and am rationing my fun geek-time... Thanks! (Or if you want to talk about price; I don't want ot make anyone feel badly if they paid a great deal for a machine, so I don't want to say some things on the forum. But honestly $500 is high, very high.)

I replied privately to Sheila, but here is some of my reply minus the money-part. I am posting here in case it is useful to others:

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Mine came with 12 extra bobbins, a manual (in German), and a tin of many extra accessories. (feet etc)

It is a -really- good machine! But there are things to look for in particular - the timing belt is cloth fibre, and if it has gotten oil on it or otherwise been compromised, it is a real stinker to find a replacement, if even possible at all.

The bobbins are unusual - flat, and thinner than normal, but not as thin as a Featherweight. I do not know whether/where one can buy replacement bobbins. Perhaps someone else on this list knows?

Please do keep us posted!

Magnets! That's brilliant! I also like how the oil holes are lined in red. Cloth timing belt -- that sounds terrible. I don't even know what a timing belt is. Where should I look for it -- above the needle area? Yes, $500 is really high. He had serviced it, though. But I didn't see any extras like a manual or accessories. And he had a somewhat defensive rap about it, and no details like what kind of needle or bobbin it takes. The seller of this machine is asking $20, but that was before he plugged it in and found it didn't work. Maybe he's lowered it to $10. The main problem with getting the machine is that I have to schlep a suitcase on the subway, and then carry it up and down a lot of stairs on the way home and I'm sure it's heavy. (I live in a city -- no car.) Plus, I have too many machines already and not enough room. Right now I don't even have a place to spread out and work on it. But I really wanna play with it! But that timing belt is scary, I must admit.

$20, get the machine.

It weighs 44 pounds. That is less than fifty cents a pound. ;-) Fits my criteria!

Bring an old lady cart. You live in a city, you have an old lady cart. ;-) You can do it. People on the subway always chip in and help if you need.

He is pulling your leg about having it serviced. He appears to know nothing. But for $20, we'll get it working.

The needles are round shank.

The timing belt is seen as you look under the machine; it is the main drive belt, and it is cloth with metal ladder-like ridges. It is just that it can be destroyed if it gets oil on it.

Really, get it. You will -not- regret it. If it is not working, it is probably a simple thread jam or re-wiring. Even if you need a whole new motor, that is easy, and this will be a great machine. If you go to see it and the handwheel does not turn, get it anyhow - though you could use that to bargain him down further if you wish... you can un-jam it and everything. I will help you, as well there are so many clever folk here.

Get it get it get it, now, y'hear? ;-) Go Girl.

-C