BERNINA 730 RECORD & HARD TO FIND TABLE: Overhaul One of the Most Popular Vintage Free Arm Machines
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ย. 2024
- Innovative in a search for market share. The little Bernina company took on the vast North American Sewing Machine Market with such innovations as a double belt/pulley system for incredibly strong power delivery. Special sewing feet with patented quick release system made this machine stand out in a competitive marketplace. The double belt and special foot release system would be copied by Japanese makers for Sears Kenmores a few years later. Most home sewers in 1965 when this machine was sold already had tables and chose carrying cases for their new Swiss Free Arms. Not this original owner though. They went for it and paid handsomely for both Bernina's nicest machine that year AND its Bernina Deluxe cabinet allowing for the luxury of a large sewing platform for all kinds of projects. This machine's owner had also invested in a treasure trove of sewing feet which I go over and describe. NOTE: This machine also includes an adapter that will allow you to use low shank non-Bernina feet should you want that option.
Ok, just when I thought it was safe to watch vintage videos I find myself with a burning desire for another masterpiece of engineering. Thanks for all your details and your sharing.
I love the varieties of stories that pop up here in the comment section, bc what cars and motorbikes are to the men, sewing machines seems to be for the (most) of the women... Early childhood memories, then learning to sew..., then owning one and later in life often inherit a machine from mom or Grandma..
And all the shenanigans and ways the Machines wander through the family tree..
Thanks for sharing and Greetings from Germany 😎👍
I inherited one of these 5 years ago and it had not been used since 1996. It started immediately and ran perfectly. I then oiled it and cleaned it and it has now become my main machine. Absolutely fantastic machine.
Great to hear Gwyn. You are VERY fortunate that it ran with just oiling since this is a machine that is less tolerant of long dormant periods without use. Congratulations!
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Two years before that I inherited a 1963 vintage Pfaff 360 which had not been used since 1986! It had lived all its life in Durban, a hot muggy subtropical city in South Africa. That required a lot if work to resurrect it. When all the parts were moving after days if penetrating oil being sprayed into and left in hit Summer sun to melt I only had to replace the bobbin drive wheel and adjust the lower timing. It, too, now works hard. It goes through heavy denim like butter.
I found a Bernina 730 Record at our local Thrift store and everything with it for $9.50 I worked on it and as you always say I gently woke it up with cleaning and oiling, and I absolutely love this machine, the Thrift store people didnt know what they had in their possession, thank you for sharing on your pod cast, your fabulous
Wow Robert! Sounds like you got quite the deal!
I have a 1957 Bernina, table, and all accessories you show, the original receipt shows $259., I bought it for $20. Cdn. Runs beautifully.
After my 25yr old Kenmore died, plastic stitch selector broke, my husband told me, NO MORE PLASTIC! So we started the hunt, We first found an Elna Special, a great machine but no stitch selections and I did not like the backstitch switch, difficult to hold and stitch!
So, I started my TH-cam hunt, and how blessed we were to find you! Your well spoken, direct and detailed information on this Bernina model became our, ( well my…lol) Unicorn to find! After only a few weeks, I was lucky enough to find one locally! It’s a 1968 model in an original desk, but not as large as the one in this video. No matter, the door holds the green accessory case and original attachments. 👍🏻💕🎉
My husband had to do some magic on both the stitch selector and feed dog drop. Both were gummed up, using electric motor oil. I’m luckily, he’s a retired steam engineer!
Thank you so much for your help! I’m loving the machine, the more I sew, the better and quieter it sews! It’s just beautiful! ❤🇨🇦❤
I would love to see you do a video series on this machine and what you do to maintain and fix this one like you did for the 530. Thanks. Great video.
I just got my Mom's Bernina 740 1230 and 1240 machines. I am having trouble figuring out how to change from decorative stitch to straight stich does lever go down for straight?
I finally was able to buy one just like this and was so excited. I checked it out and plugged it in and hit the foot pedal and was speechless. OMG dream machine and I collect them and have many top of the line vintage of many brands. I will not be parting with this one :-)
I have a 930 Record Electronic that my mother-in-law bought at the factory in Switzerland in the early 80's I think. She bought two, gave one to her mother, and then gave it to me after her mom passed. I am very blessed! Mom was living in Norway while her husband worked there, and the trip they took to Switzerland ended up costing more than transportation, room, and board! My MIL still has the twin to mine.
Thanks for sharing!
I have a 707 bought for 100 dollars in 1981 still use the machine it’s so good for sewing leather denim and top stitching. But now it nearly costs 100 dollars to get serviced.
Thanks! I just picked up a Bernina 730.
I just inherited my grandmother's Bernina 730 Record and am learning how to use a new machine. (I've worked on a Brother my whole life.) Thank you for a great video! I also now better understand the treasure I own. 🥰
That is awesome!
Hello, could you make a video explaining how to use the different types of stitches of the Bernina 730 record machine and each of its functions, please
Wow. Great video of a Cool machine . I just got a deal on a full working kit in the portable case with all the accessories. I thought I’d risk the £10 they asked for it . Trying to service it soon 🤓
I have a Bernina 740 Favorit with accessories and a full cabinet. The feed dogs are not reversing. ?? Can you share what is happening?
Bernina 730's are very good machines. Some of the best of that era. The one in this video is wrongly threaded though. The thread must go over the outside of that metal/wire bar that's on the frame immediately above the needle bar, not underneath it as appears to have been done here. Probably there's been some confusion with the earlier 500 and 600 machines which have a different bar design, and the thread does go underneath on those.
Excellent
omg THANK YOU! There is not a video here that covers this model in detail. All others are tutorials on how to use the machine. I got interested because i've been seeing this model with this exact table and all accessories on craigslist for the past few weeks and the asking price is $175. Pretty remarkable. I'm obsessed with vintage machines and i have about 7 currently. Trying no to buy anymore but dang is it hard. And, i use all of them and have been experimenting with doing decorative stitches on t shirts. 2 of my machines are in need of overhaul or repair (both are kenmores). Not sure if i should have a go at it so i don't have to spend all this $ (repair shops are pricey). Anyway, based on your video sound like the deal on craigslist is beyond amazing. :))
I found that exact model today at a thrift store not with the table was just with the case. There was a piece of tape on it and it said not working ,five dollars… And I brought it home and it works perfect came with all the feet and all the accessories you can imagine. I'm so excited!
Wow! Great find and you basically got it for nothing!
I have that machine. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about it with me. I have it as it belonged to my husband’s late wife.
You are so welcome!
I like that format. I have 3 Elnas, 1 Bernina Record, 1 Husqvarna, 1 Fridor and 1 Pfaff.
I see... The sewing machine bug has bitten you too😂👍
Any videos about how to sew a buttonhole with this machine?
Love your videos ❤. Thank you very much.
Glad you like them!
OLD IS GOLD.💪❤️
I just recently fixed my grandma's 730. Bought in 1965. The biggest problem are the plastic parts decaying due to the old age. And the motor is in its last stand, but I already have a replacement. I only need a cover for the two pins that connect the foot pedal to the machine, because the old one desintegrated.
The mystery darning foot is a wool darner... excellent foot for mending wool and fleece as well as free motion.
Oh yes. At the time I made the video, I was unsure and later saw it listed somewhere on a Bernina blog. But thanks for confirming.
I have that same machine with the green case, accessory drawer thing and the table tray attachment.
My mom had the 540. Looked a lot like this, but the bobbin winder was in the front. Weighed a ton. She also had all those feet.
Hi thanks for this video. I have a Bernina record. It is stuck in a cabinet and I would like to get it out. Any tips please?
If you have the manual, it will be helpful if you have never tried removing the machine before. There are bolts that hold the machine in place on a movable platform below. This should allow the machine to get free for removal. I might suggest having an extra set of hands with you the first time you try taking it out.
Love this Machine! Made to last forever.. The Foot at 5:12 i don't know its name nor its exact purpose, but it serves me perfectly to sew on buttons with 2 or 4 holes. For a nice shank, i use a spacer needle or some folded paper between the button and the cloth.
Thanks for sharing!
Remember this machine well from growing up. My mother have had it since around 1970 I believe. I liked to study it and look behind the covers know and then, I was impressed by the overall feel of build quality and intricate parts inside) But I never messed with it and tried to 'help fix something', as young curious boys sometimes do, this was a 'Rolls Royce' thing and a absolute 'No Go Zone' for young hands with a screwdriver;) I'm a mechanical engineer these days, maybe this machine have been part of some inspiration)
I'm sure it must have been some kind of inspiration. I know of someone whose son "tinkered" with her machine when he was a child. It never ran right afterwards!!
I just found one of these with the guarantee bond in the case… is the machine particularly expensive?
Thanks, that’s a good idea, there may be someone somewhere in the UK who understands the 730 !
Great Video!!!! Hoping to pick one up this weekend for $50 including cabinet. Hopefully still there in a few days.🤞Seller states that it hasn’t been used in 20 years. For $50… not too bad of a gamble.
Good luck!
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage well got the machine and it came with the table (made in Holland), all original receipts, 10 presser feet, and caddy. Had my sewing machine tech look at and it will cost me $350 to fix. Told him to do it… this will be my machine. It is also the 75th anniversary edition. My technician told me that once he is done with it will be in Excellent condition. I know it’s expensive… but hope it will serve me well for many years.
I have this machine, it sat in a storage unit for quite a few years. I has a really nice big cabinet as well. It was locked up, after some oil and heat, I got her broke loose, but the belts sat for so long they're oval shaped and let it sew. Do you happen to know where I can get replacement belts? I've tried a few different ones with no luck. Thanks for the videos
Try this site. Here is one of the belts that I "think" you need but always verify with the seller that it is specific to this model. Yours requires 2 belts and this seller might have both. FYI, some sellers online carry "round, rubber, stretch belts" and some of those are green mimicking some of the original belts. I would avoid those as your machine will not work well with them and you wont like sewing results when stretch belts are used. Here is the link:
www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/new-replacement-motor-belt-necchi-bernina-part-305-076-08?_pos=1&_sid=7faae0161&_ss=r
I have purchased a bernina 730, it sews beautifully on a straight and zig zag stitch. I cannot for the life of me set up the decorative sticthes, yet I have the manual. It wouldnt get going on the decorative stiches. Its been serviced please adivse me. Or is there a video I could watch. Thanks let me know.
Hi, did you find the answer to this? I solved mine today. I was worried because it wouldn't even do the zig zag in the beginning. Everything was straight stitch.
I have recently purchased a Bernina 530-2 record similar to the one you are demonstrating. The problem is that it does not have the knee lever. Do you happen to have a lever I can purchase or know if another one would be compatible? I am dying to sew with it but cannot get the power to work without the lever. Thanks for your response.
Nice machine!
That big lever shown on 2:42 (on the right) seems to be for another Bernina (121 or 125, or 530-1 Record) to use for the motor-control by the knee, instead of the foot-pedal. Some Berninas have a a similar lever, to operate the sewing-foot lifter by pressing that lever with the knee.
That function is called the "Bernina FHS" (FHS for "Frei-Hand-System" = hands-free-system) and I absolutely adore it. But those FHS-levers are more massive than Yours, mostly not foldable.
Does this lever fit anywhere in this machine?
Awesome Machine indeed! I bought that exact same model as well... but it seems like my cross stitch won't come to life. Do you have any hints on how to exactly configure the machine to make it work again? I tried all knob permutations I could think of by the manual, but it just doesn't make sense that it's not working :( any help would be really appreciated!
When I inherited my 730 a few years back none of the fancy stitches would work so I doused the main shaft and camstack with penetrating oil and turned a hairdryer on it. Loosened everything up. Put a pile of newspaper under the machine when doing this exercise.
Nice video as usual, this is one of my favorite machines, I am not sure if you could order it either way but on both of mine the knee lever lifts the pressure foot and there is a foot pedal for speed control.
The round foot with the oval opening is an embroidering foot... The width of the hole allows for the various widths of stitches in the decorative stitches one could use in embroidery designs. The round shape of the outside of the foot base allows one to move the fabric any direction without getting foot corners caught on fabric when passing over it. (Hope that makes sense.)
Thanks for the info!
If love to see a cleaning and living servicing video of this one
I have a Bernina 730 record which I bought in 1970 or 71 and have made many garments on it throughout the years. Recently I had it serviced and the person that did the work, didn’t understand the machine and has messed it up so that it no longer does any embroidery stitches. 😪. I wish you were in the UK! By the way I paid £110 for it, it was the most expensive machine on the market at the time.
Sorry to hear of your experience with the overhaul person you had do the work. In North America, we have Bernina dealers who will often work on older machines (there are exceptions). If you have a Bernina Dealer near you there in the UK, ask if they can (or know of someone such as a retired Bernina tech) that could assist you. Yes, they are wonderful machines, but like many European designed machines, they have different technical requirements that many of the US or Japanese made models.
Hello there, I just watched your video dealing with removal of the wheel on side and I can not find it.
Would you please point me to it? I have the frozen wheel and can not move it even after the removal of the small screw. I do not want to damage it. Thank you.
So I should be lucky to live in Germany..
I just purchased one for 110 € including shipping😏😉👍
That alternative strange darning foot is used to darn with wool, you put a woolen pice of yarn in the inlet. You stitch the woolen yarn together with your normal thread across the hole of your garment.
Hello, I have one of these machines (complete with the table and all accessories that are all in original working order) gifted by my mother. I was going to sell it but now that I have come across your video, I realize I have something more than just a sewing machine! Do you happen to have a value for this machine? I’d like to make certain it is insured property now.
Yours sounds extra special because it belonged to your Mom so I can definitely see why you would keep it. Value is always relative to location (Urban locales show higher prices than rural ones) but there are always exceptions. The best way to gauge value is to look beyond Ebay values and see if you can do a search for Berninas in your geographic region such as on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist etc. Insurance should not cost that much even for a vintage machine in the higher range of value such as this.
I have this exact machine in the cabinet. But my cabinet is a reverse model, with the drawers on my lefthand side. I purchased from an online ad, and didn't check it out totally, so found out when I wanted to do a blind hem that the person who serviced this machine, deactivated the decorative stitch setting. :( Otherwise it works really well!
Thanks for sharing!
Please I would appreciate knowing how to open a 730 to clean out old oil .
Where can I get this kind of table for my bernina 730 record machine please?
How do you backstitch on this machine? Could not see which button you used in the tutorial.
You shift the stitch length adjustment lever all the way up until it stops.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thank you. This machine works like a dream.
The foot that looks like a darning foot looks like a couching foot. It looks zig-zag capable and has a slot for the couching thread.
The 930 came out in early 80's
I have same machine with cabinet with knee pedal and it sews great but i have to pull it through to sew and someone offered me 125.00 for it ,i really think I'd b making a mistake,,wish i knew what i have to do to get feed going ugh
Hard to know what the cause might be although I would first check the feed dog position adjustment.
A lot of people do use those embroidey stitched on sewing machine
The old great machines are great for being practically indestructible but I prefer some with decorative stitches
Good to know!
The 530 debuted in 1954, the 730 in '63, the 830 in 1971, and the 930 in '82...
Thank you Keith. I had searched some time ago, but had not found any good info. on the timing of those machine intros.
Is there a quilting (walking foot) foot that is available for this machine? I own a Bernina machine like this but need a walking foot now.
These are said to be good with heavy sewing also. Like handbags, not heavy leather of course.
Yes, they are. I sense that it is due to their use of 2 belts and a small pulley that connects them. Marusen in Japan copied this idea for Kenmore's 1970's machines and it works quite well to provide maximum needle piercing power.
Can I email you for more information on working on this sewing machine
I'm looking how to open the top please. Just got this machine and can't open the top to oil it
I got the answer from a video for a similar model.
I got this w the cabinet f free on trash night. I am here trying to figure it out no instructions book just vintage thead and needles and boxes
Wow, that's a great find. Some of the Bernina groups on FB might have a copy of the manual which you would find quite helpful. Here is a link to one also. www.manualslib.com/manual/15716/Bernina-730-Record.html
Hello, I am one of your followers , I need you help plz
I have Bernina machine and I dont know what's wrong with it , it blocks a lot , Hope that you give me any contact to explain more ,
Thank you
When you say it, "Blocks", can you explain more of what you mean?
Button hole??? It does??
Does this need a cabinet? I'm assuming yes. How much is it?
Hello. Thanks for the nice video. I am not sure if you can help me with a question I have. I have vintage bernina 125 that has its zig zag needle offset on the right. For the straight stitch the needle is well centred. How should i adjust it for the zig zag? Can you give me some tips? Thanks
Its likely that the problem may be happening either at the mechanism that swings and allows zigzag (in the side compartment where your needle bar/presser bar live) or it can also be the lever that controls the zigzag settings. Old oil can gum up the control of the zigzag setting. It takes patience but it can be done. Tread slowly so as not to damage the knobs/levers.
The larger darning foot is a wool darning foot.
I recently purchased a Bernina record 530-2 in it's original cabinet. This machine runs like charm, but I have an issue with it. The stitch length knob and the needle positioning knob are very hard to move. Do they come like that or is there a way to loosen them a little, so that I don't have to struggle every time I need to operate those?
Hello. Levers/knobs/dials on sewing machines should not be stiff to move. They have "some" light tension on them by design, but its very likely yours are slowed by old oil that has oxidized and this occurs between metal parts behind the levers or also metal parts that the levers adjust. I have tried penetrants such as WD-40 and others to loosen these. Note that I only use penetrants outdoors with plenty of ventilation. But you can hold off on those at first and simply try using sewing machine oil and the heat from a hair dryer can also help soften old gummed up oil. It is VERY important to use any of these remedies carefully as you don't want to damage any parts with heat. Penetrants should be kept away from the motor as these will damage it. I have found that patience in coaxing stuck machines to move is the best approach.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thank you very much for your prompt response. I will try doing as you have suggested, and I hope this should loosen the knobs.
بالنسبة لتلك القطعة التي لم تعرفها فهي مخصصة للأزرار
I really enjoy every video of your vintage sewing machines and I'm interested in purchasing one. Is it possible that you could send me your email or add it to the text description of your channel under the about tab. I haven't been able to locate your email to get in touch with you. Thank you kindly
Like your videos, but please turn off the auto-focus stystem. The (continuous) small adjustments in image-fame drives me NUTS. Now so that I only listen... Take care and keep up the good work.
Those machines are still expensive.
So true Dyana. Sometimes, a machine model or brand will have a certain following of fans that drives up their prices. These are wonderful machines and yet the 1970's Kenmore FreeArm models are the equal of these yet sell for much less. But I always say people should buy what they like.
@Piper Mccoy No, the Kenmores were the last of the all metal machines with the final one without any plastic moving parts being produced around 1976 in Japan. The one you had would have been fine compared to todays modern plastic models but the last Kenmores to be all steel were the mid 70's models.
Berninas are overrated.
Will an activa virtuoso 008 372 7000 work on this machine