hornblower Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 My mil moved (into a apartment at a senior complex) and pretty much walked out of her condo with just a few belongings, leaving us to sort & clean a bunch of stuff & we're welcome to anything there. She has an old Swiss Bernina, the kind that is in a cabinet. Knee control. I believe it's a 530-2 but it doesn't look quite like the ones I see online.Afaik she sewed on it until a couple years ago & she's the kind of person who would have kept it oiled and in good condition. I suspect it's better than my machine (which is a cheapie 20 year old very basic Singer) but I dunno... I don't really sew & have no plans to start. I just repair stuff or occasionally sew a dog bed etc. I can't decide. Is a 1950s Bernina something I shouldn't pass up? If we don't take it, it'll end up getting donated to goodwill. .... that's the other thing - nobody has time or energy to try selling any of this stuff & I don't even know if it's really worth much.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 It's nice to have a machine up and ready to go, in a cabinet, if you have room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 You should not pass it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billswife Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 The old Bernina sewing machines are the best. I was gifted one a few years ago and it is awesome!! Those things are tanks and work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) oh, definitely do not pass it up! Vintage Berninas are the best - such a lovely straight stitch. I have several sewing machines, but my Bernina (not quite as vintage) is my very favorite machine and the one that I would absolutely hold onto. eta before I got my Bernina I didn't sew very much either, but it is such a joy to use, especially in comparison to a newer Singer, that I sew quite a bit now. SO even if you don't sew a lot now you shouldn't talk yourself out of it. :) Edited October 23, 2016 by bibiche Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Your kids may use it for different things even if you don't. Those machines do not have a modern counterpart. You will sew more if the machine is ready to use when you need to fix something or make something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 I bought a 30+ old Bernina two years ago. Happy with that purchase. With some searching I even found an instructional YouTube of it. It was made by an enthusiast, not an official Bernina video, those are all for newer machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 all depends upon condition. if it's in great shape - go for it. if it's not, it can end up overheating and you have to take breaks while it cools down. can be a real pain in a big project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 It's awful. Just a boat anchor. You need to send it to me so it doesn't clutter up your life. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 I would totally take it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 I belong to a quilt guild and several of our members have and use a trusty old Bernina that they inherited from someone. Definitely take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 I would take it in a heartbeat. They just don't making things like that any more and when you (your kids/grandkids/neighbor/best friend/choir group...) need one, you'd be soooo glad to have an awesome, beasty, repairable machine that just works! If you are super super sure you'll never ever ever use it, then don't take it. But, dude. They are so nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Totally swoop that baby up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Take it!!! Or ship it to me. Whichever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 If you take it and then decide later not to keep it, I wonder if there is a quilting group in your area that would value it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rose Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Those are gold. Even if you don't have time to sell it now save it and sell it later. They're valuable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 :lol: ok, ok you guys. I'll take it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 An all metal Bernina? This is like that pretty little golden pot at the end of the rainbow. The only catch is that parts and repairs are a challenge on these. If it works, I'd absolutely never part with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Well... I mean... as someone who sews only casually... my grandfather was a sewing machine repairman. He gave me a really nice, 1950's all metal machine. Some aspects of having it were great. But others... as a casual sewer... just weren't. I finally swapped it out for a relatively cheap new machine a few years ago. And I find I sew more with it, it has fewer issues and needs less fixing and maintenance from me. It's lighter, so not having a place for it means I don't break my arm lugging it out... If I was a serious sewer, I'm sure I'd want the old one. I'm sure when my newish one dies, it'll die hard and be junk while the metal one could keep ticking for years. But as someone who mostly does small projects here and there, that's my perspective on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Dd and I took a class offered by a wonderful quilt shop a few years ago where we were taught how to care for and tune our machine. Dd keeps our really bottom of the Singer running really smoothly. Fixes lots of stuff that I would of had to pay to have done or buy a new one. Our group brought that speaker in for an all day seminar. It was one of the best things we ever did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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