I have a bernina artista 170 platium quilters edition that I am looking to sell. It does have the knee lifter. I have a lot of feet that go with it, a dvd that shows different ways to use the machine. This machine has a embroidery module that can be purchased, I don't have the module. I also have the manual for it. This has been a great machine and sews a really straight seam. The reason I am letting this one go is that my DH bought me a new machine and I just don't have room for it. I may be putting it on ebay this weekend.

Semi-industrial just means it sews faster than a regular domestic machine. But not as fast as an industrial. The throat space is bigger than a regular domestic machine, but smaller than an industrial. It has the metal bobbin case instead of the plastic drop-in bobbin case that the rest of their domestic machines have. It's marketed as a quilting machine because it can do free-motion faster than your domestic, and it comes with 2 free-motion feet and a walking foot. And it has a cutter under the needle plate that can be activated by the foot control.

I only just heard of Singer 1200. I have yet to find a 201 in this area for less than $75, and almost all are over $100. So I expect it will be a long time before I see a 1200 around here, but that just gives me an excuse to keep trolling the internet ;-)

I googled the Juki models mentioned and they appear to be "modern" machines. I have no interest in plastic/computer based machines, and not just because the price is over my head. I deeply regret sending my all metal vintage White machine to Goodwill a few years ago during a necessary downsizing. I reluctantly reassured myself that I could get the same service from a smaller, lighter Brother CS 6000i. It sews, well, ok...but it has no class, no personality. I have been compulsively rescuing vintage machines lately to atone for my error.

So far, it appears that the Berninas and the Singer 1200 are the only vintage models that have the presser foot knee lifter. Interesting! I am expecting never to find either in my severely constricted price range, but stranger things have happened! Thanks for the responses.

Are they vintage Brothers (pre-1980, with metal interior parts) and if so, which models?

The 1200s are not common machines, but sometimes a person can get lucky and find one. A lot of time they're listed as a 201 especially if they've been taken out of the table. Singer serial # records list them as a 201 until the 1950s just a few years before they ceased production.
And no, you won't find a vintage Brother home machine with a knee operated foot lift.

Cari

I found my 1200-1 on my local Craigslist about a year after I started collecting sm's. I have not seen one locally since (in two years); but I have seen one or two regionally after that. You just have to stay attentive and be willing to work on cleaning one up if you find one.

From what I understand, Singer designed 1200's to be used by tailors and seamstresses. I call it my "semi-pro" model. Mine was said to be the sm of an Oleg Cassini designer's mother who was a NYC professional seamstress in the '50's. The lady's mother would sew her daughter's designs that were then shown to Mr. Cassini for review and approval. Mine was definitely used heavily as I had to replace the upper thread tensioner discs because of grooves worn in them from so much thread passing between them. I paid $60 for it and its well-worn original table.

The machine's electric motor controller is actuated by a treadle-like cast iron foot plate. The padded leather knee controller activates a combinaton of steel arm linkages which are not present on a standard 201 that are connected to the internal presser foot mechanism to raise it when the knee controller is pressed.

John Thomas in NC

A Pfaff 1472 & 1475 have knee lift's and up/down needle. It also has a built in walking foot which I love. I have a couple Bernina's, Baby Lock, Brother and several feather weight. When it comes to garment sewing, I always get my Pfaff 1472 out. The feather weight are great for piecing quilts. And my Baby Lock and Brother are great for embroidery. So, each machine has it's purposes.

Husqvarna, I have one

I own a Singer 128 that only has a knee lift. I also own an Elna Supramatic that is knee lift only.

Those machine are not equipped with a knee lift, the motor is controlled with a knee bar. Totally different operations.

Cari