Vigorrelli ZZ/A Robot
 

Does anyone have any information on this machine? Is it worth getting for $10? It doesn't work at this time so it would just be to work on and see if I could get it to running, but is it worth it?

I love the color and look of it.

Oh, yes...I love it! And there are plenty of good people here to help you. Pretty, pretty sewing machine!

Anything is worth 10 dollars.LOL It is certainly pretty. If you can get it to sew, that's really good.

Go get it. Run. Don't walk.

If I remember correctly, Vigorelli was an engineer who had worked for Necchi before starting his own company, and the Vigorelli Robot was the first domestic machine manufactured with a built-in camstack for decorative stitches. It posed a problem for Singer's 401 due to patent infringement issues and there were a series of negotiations between Singer, Vigorelli and Bernina. I always think about it as The Zigzag Wars, but I suppose it's actually more like The Decorative Stitch Wars. Here's a long court document about it: http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfr...028.SNY.htm/qx

Here's a comparison picture of the decorative stitches of the Robot vs. the 401: http://needlebar.org/cm/displayimage..._display_media

I don't have a Robot, but do have a later model Nelco-badged Vigorelli Amica Super Practical. It's a very strong stitcher, makes very nice decorative stitches and is surprisingly fast. It does take odd bobbins which are about the size of Pfaff bobbins but have holes on one side like Elna bobbins. Apparently, they're hard to obtain, but mine came with 18 so that's enough for me.

There is a yahoo group called borlettivigorelli and they do have a manual for the Robot in their files.

I have a special fondness for the German and Italian machines.

Good luck.

Run.

Thanks for the comments and input.

The machine didn't have any accessories with it, but I will go ask if they maybe had them behind the counter or something. I understand from my own researching that it's built in cams are plastic... I will have to try to get a look at them to see if they are intact. I will go check it out better tomorrow.

Interesting to read about the competition between Vigorrelli and Singer 401. I had also found that Vigorrelli worked for the Necchi company.

I would be sure it has all it's parts

That might be hard to know when it's not working. I was looking at that "hole" on the face thinking a knob was missing but a quick search showed that seems normal lol! For 10.00 it would already be in my car! I can't see the table well but what U can see looks in good condition too.

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*** Go for it.
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*** It look a like the Rolls-Royce of machines. Very classy look.
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*** Love the color.

What in interesting DSM. I have never seen this model before.

Make sure it has a bobbin case and at least one bobbin (for comparison for substitutes). My Vigorelli has a really odd looking bobbin case and you don't find parts much on ebay.