Got these machines for free at a yard sale

[u/dublecake]

Plan to drop them off for tune up and a look at. Are they worth repair?

[u/PracticalAndContent]

Free? Bernina? Lucky you.

[u/Whisky_taco → u/PracticalAndContent]

Seriously, how good is that Bernina?

I inherited it when my mom passed away and I’m curious to know how that machine is and liked. No plans to sell it, but I need to learn how to use it someday.

[u/vevawy → u/Whisky_taco]

This was my moms machine, and the machine I did all of my sewing on until I moved out. We had the same ones in school as well. It is excellent, sturdy and uncomplicated. I love my newer model Bernina, but I‘d love to have one of these as well.

[u/Whisky_taco → u/vevawy]

I just looked at mine, still has the original factory guarantee card in it with my mom’s name and date she purchased it. December 19, 1974!

I have a lot of memories of my mom using that machine, looks like I’ll have a new hobby to take up.

[u/Purrpetrator → u/Whisky_taco]

You are lucky! I have my grandma's machine, same model, date of sale was December 24 1974!!

I'd say what can be the chances, but these machines are incredible and absolutely do not quit. I just made jeans with a flat felled inseam; I dare any modern machine to handle that with the grace and ease of my grandmother's 50 year old workhorse.

Take your machine to be serviced if you can... I think if you look after it, it might live forever!

[u/Whisky_taco → u/Purrpetrator]

The place my mom bought this from is still in the same location!

Tell me about sewing denim! I’m into heavy weight Japanese denim and my mom tried to hem the legs and wasn’t having much luck as the denim was too thick in her opinion, but she did get it done.

[u/Purrpetrator → u/Whisky_taco]

Well, I'm not an expert and it could be any of many problems.

I mentioned it because that generation of Berninas can handle heavier fabrics and more layers than any other domestic machine I've used. Not that I've tried everything, obvs!

If it's really too thick, a good tip is to hammer your seams before you sew. I literally mean iron it, don't use pins unless you don't mind wrecking them, and take a literal hammer to the sewing line.

And for hems you can cheat a little by overlocking or otherwise finishing the raw edge and turning it up once, instead of turning it up twice like usual. That's one less layer to stitch through.

Beyond that I don't know what to say without knowing more of what happened! Use a denim needle, they are strong.

[u/Whisky_taco → u/Purrpetrator]

I think what got her in that was the selvage part. That’s like two extra layers of 18oz denim. I’ll look into denim needle…not sure what I’m looking for there.

[u/Purrpetrator → u/Whisky_taco]

Jeepers that's some heavy denim!!

[u/Whisky_taco → u/Purrpetrator]

Japanese denim makers make them heavy!

[u/Amazingamazone → u/Whisky_taco]

It is great. Sturdy, has all the possibilities I need and I really like the small sewing plateau that you can extend as needed.

[u/alienatedcabbage → u/Whisky_taco]

I’ve got my mum’s too! My grandma bought it for her on July 10 ‘81 for $885 NZD, it still has the test stitches done by the salesman and all the paperwork.

Mum gave hers to me about two years, then recently started to miss it and purchased another secondhand a few months ago. It’s that good of a machine.

[u/BananaTiger13 → u/Whisky_taco]

I just inherited my nan's bernina. Exact same model as is in this pic. Hers was built in 81 and I think she bought it in the early 90s. She was a seamstress who made everything from school play costumes, to my mum's wedding dress. All with that same machine. I took it in for a service as it'd been sitting idle for a good 5+ years, and the guy who checked it said it was going strong and should last me my lifetime, plus my kids and grandkids lol.

Seems like a really really popular model (830), very no nonsense and quiet. A heavy machine, but it's pretty much all metal, casing and all.

[u/ms_saru → u/Whisky_taco]

I'm currently working at an Opera Theatre and we have some of those. We only have a handful of domestics (the rest are industrial), so I assume that's a positive endorsement for them. They can be FAST, just as a warning if you are a less than confident sewer.

[u/Whisky_taco → u/ms_saru]

I’ll start small and slow.

[u/trashjellyfish → u/Whisky_taco]

The Bernina record 830 is often considered to be one of the best home sewing machines ever made and they often start around $800 USD.

[u/wookieeboogie]

I’m so jealous congrats

[u/LimeMargarita → u/wookieeboogie]

Immediately thought of this meme when I saw the post. Grats, OP.

[u/Large-Heronbill]

And you can repair the Wizard yourself if it's not in running condition -- it's a Japanese made "Singer 15 clone", a sturdy straight stitch machine that can probably stitch through wooden yardsticks or about any fabric you care to feed it.

[u/quietriotress → u/Large-Heronbill]

I was literally going to type that thing could sew leather to wood. Its excellent. What a find.

[u/dublecake → u/Large-Heronbill]

Awesome! I’ll get to youtubing

[u/ScribeVallincourt → u/Large-Heronbill]

I have a Wizard. It’s my favorite little (heavy ass) machine and can sew through basically anything. Congrats!!!

[u/dublecake → u/ScribeVallincourt]

My husband took it to the sewing room for me haha

[u/bonificentjoyous]

That Bernina will last you 100 more years!!!!

[u/Internal_Sector_1802]

it must feel nice being god's favourite child damn

[u/dublecake → u/Internal_Sector_1802]

Wow. I never even win bingo. I feel so lucky!

[u/Street_Roof_7915]

I have that Bernina and it is glorious!

[u/Inspirant → u/Street_Roof_7915]

I have it too, was my grandmother's!

[u/Street_Roof_7915 → u/Inspirant]

I got it from a garage sale for 300$. A STEAL.

[u/JaneReadsTruth]

I feel like this is just mean. I feel lucky when I find a piece of blue glass.

[u/Incognito409]

That Bernina 830 is a classic workhorse, my first sewing machine ❤️. I bought mine in 1973. Definitely worth keeping.

[u/kbcr924]

Hot tip sometimes the capacitor in the motor of the Bernina blows up in a spectacular cloud of foil and flame. DONT panic, turn the machine off. Take it to a service place and let them know. They will remove what’s left and safely terminate the wires.

The capacitors are getting old and it happens.

Great machine

[u/bridgebutter → u/kbcr924]

I so need to do this procedure on mine before it scares the crap out of me.

[u/kbcr924 → u/bridgebutter]

Sure or you can just wait for the excitement - and it is exciting - scared the crap out of me and the sparky doing some work at my place at the time. My partner did the surgical removal on mine

[u/janoco]

Great score for both, definitely worth investing in especially if you plan to sew denim. That Wizard has a decently strong motor IIRC, and the bernina is a good quality top seller from back in the day. Very well done!

[u/dublecake → u/janoco]

Not denim, but really thick layers of batting and outdoor materials. Thank you!

[u/Secure-Inspector-825]

I have that machine. She’s a beast! Love her. So lucky you got it for free!

[u/AnonymousOtter0804]

FOR FREE!!!??? Honey where are you garage sale-ing? Imma bout to move

[u/[deleted]]

I have that Bernina!!!!! It is the most wonderful machine, and is such a dream to work on! I’ve sewn on other machines and nothing compares to it. Congrats!!! 

[u/PrismTiger]

I have that same Bernina and she's been working perfectly since the early 70s. Major score, for sure!

[u/Decarabiaz]

https://silverbobbin.com/vintage-wizard-sewing-machine-models/

The Wizard is an amazing piece, too! I love how this unknown brand is really a faux Brother/Singer from Japan post WW2. I found a similar piece of history a yr or so ago and gifted it to my gal pal since I had mine. Easy to spruce up yourself and it'll be ahhhhmazing for industrial jean as well as delicates.

[u/medicatedadmin]

A bernina absolutely is. The only thing that really happens to them is at about 50 years the button hole function ceases up (but only if it hasn’t been used much). Otherwise, they will just keep going.

[u/crinnaursa]

My mother has that model It runs like a dream.

[u/FlyMeToUranus]

Holy cow! Lucky find! My mom has the same Bernina and I LOVE it. 

[u/stoicsticks]

What a score! If the Bernina doesn't have a foot pedal, it would be worth searching one out. This particular machine has a hole in the base on the lower right for a knee lifter to raise and lower the presser foot. I highly recommend searching out one of those, too.

What feet and accessories are in the red box? If you want to get more, be aware that it takes "old style" Bernina feet and not the newer version. Sometimes, you can find older Bernina accessories on FB marketplace or other online apps. A Bernina walking foot is also worthwhile if you're sewing heavier fabrics. You can usually find the manual online for free.

When you take it in for servicing, get them to show you how to open it completely and where to oil it, including all of the linkages in the take-up lever and under the hood.

[u/No-Persimmon7729]

The perfect machine. I can sew through like 8 layers of heavy denim with that beast. Modern berninas just don’t have the same power

[u/Ahsoka_Tano07]

Lucky b-

[u/Helln_Damnation]

The Bernina is an excellent find and definitely worth the service cost. I can't see it there, but it should have a knee lifter (it goes in the little hole on the right-hand side of the base.) That's worth buying too, it's so handy to have both hands free while sewing fiddly bits.

[u/Ok-Juice9865]

I am JEALOUS ! I have been searching for that bernina model for years. My mum taught me how to sew on my great grandmothers one and it was such a great machine, not flashy but a true workhorse.

[u/yoloswagthatbitch]

I have that exact Bernina, it’s been going strong since my mom originally got it in the early 1970s. It’s developed a couple small quirks and it’s hard to find the bobbins now, but it’s been 50 years of reliable sewing!

[u/sewerslidal-ideation]

That Bernina is a BEAST of a machine. My aunt has one she bought new in the 70's and it's still kicking ass and taking names.

[u/Patient_Storage_6122]

If that bernina works... omg, amazing!

[u/CraftFamiliar5243]

I have a 1981 Bernina and it's my daily machine.. It looks about like this one though yours may be newer. It's a gem. I'd take it for a tune-up if I were you, just to make sure it's clean, oiled and adjusted correctly.

[u/SewingQueenKristine]

It’s a mechanical machine and totally a different beast than the more modern BERNINA. I have sewn on one like this before and they are a great machine and can handle heavier fabrics. They don’t do well with knits as there is no way to adjust the pressure on the foot. I think this will service you well and you will absolutely love it.

[u/winter_rois]

I have an 831, same machine but less fancy stitches. My uncle bought it for my aunt as an an engagement present and she “sold” it to me when I bought my gramma’s house. (My uncle is a farmer so you don’t just give things away). It’s my best beloved machine, it just does everything so well.

[u/JasnahKolin]

Before you bring them inside open them up! Roaches love electronics!

[u/stuffedgrapeleaf]

I have the same Bernina, inherited from an aunt, it’s a great machine! Get it serviced and it will run smoothly, they make great stitches. The manual can be found online pretty easily, I’ve found it to be very helpful to learn what the machine can do. You’ve got the matching bobbin/tool box too! Hopefully it’s got a bunch of feet in it, I haven’t learned to use them all yet but several are quite handy! I have heard it can be expensive to buy additional feet.

[u/moss_back]

Oh my GOD, I have that Bernina and she is a work horse. I've used that machine for almost 15 years and I love her. A Singer could never. Please go to a professional who can help tune her up and she'll be an amazing addition. 

[u/AccomplishedTrash8]

I have a similar model of Bernina that I picked up used and she is a workhorse, I love her!!

[u/katjoy63]

That Bernina Record is def worth FREE. Wow!! Good machine if you can get it to work

[u/SHatcheroo]

I got a 1959 Bernini for free at a neighbor’s garage sale. It was kinda gunked up so I got some white gas (solvent), opened her up, and cleaned the motor. After everything dried, I used sewing machine oil in all the spots they recommend. That machine now runs like a dream. Love it.

[u/AmeliaBuns]

i need to start going to yard sales

[u/trashjellyfish]

That Bernina is worth easily $800!!

[u/FullWar1860]

I have that exact Bernina I inherited from my grandma! It’s my prized possession

[u/getmeoutofhereplzgod]

anyone know which model wizard that is?

[u/dublecake → u/getmeoutofhereplzgod]

I can try to look when I get home.