Bernina 117 vs. 217 different Hands-Free-Systems ("Bernina FHS") .

Some call it "Knee lever" or ""knee lifter", BERNINA calls it "FHS", for "Free-hands-System" and they put this useful function in many of their machines, even in some real domestic models. This video shows the different FHS systems on the very vintage KL-117 (built 1938-45) and the 217-industrial (this one's built in 1984).

[@emilyrobinson6080]

I have a 117L, but I dont have the knee lever. Do you know if it accepts the levers sold by Bernina currently? The socket it would go into on my machine appears to just need a tapered rod with a flange or pin through it to catch in a slot, id really like to get the functionality added to my machine as i really have gotten addicted to using a knee lever for lifting the foot when using industrials. Thanks for the video

[@SH1974]

It's not the same style socket as the newer Berninas have (the newer have less diameter) , but it's not complicated to rebuild: The lever itself has a diameter of 8mm, the pin has 3mm diameter and 12mm length. It sits 15mm from the levers end.

[@emilyrobinson6080]

@@SH1974 Thank you so much for the information. It seems like something I can make easily enough once I get the proper steel rod and bend it to shape.

[@SH1974]

​@@emilyrobinson6080 You're welcome. There are another Bernina 117 videos in my channel where You can see the lever better than here. I've got 2 of those levers (because I've got two 117's), they are slightly different shaped. My brother-in-law also owns a class 117, he made a knee lever by bending a simple piece of rebar in a vice, using a hammer. He used a nail as cross-pin. Because the nail pin can not be hardened, he decided to make 2 pins. They sit about 10mm and 17mm from the lever's end. He smoothed/rounded the rebar only on the section that fits in the machine roughly with a file. That doesn't look very original, but (kind of cool, Steampunk) who cares? It works properly! P.s. be warned: Once You get used to the "FHS" function, You don't want to sew without it any more!

[@emilyrobinson6080]

@@SH1974 i normally sew on a treadle machine, though have had the pleasure of using a similar device on an industrial electric machine when doing some work in a costume shop a few years ago and ever since have found myself reaching for a lever that isnt there with my knee. Its part of the reason I chose the 117 when one became available to me, even though they can command some high prices here in the US. The size footprint of a domestic machine, the unrivaled precision in its construction and the fact I can buy needles for it in bulk from industrial suppliers are all excellent but the free hand system is what sold it above other machines of comparable quality. I can get steel rod easily enough, i believe making a slight chamfer on the end and drilling a spot for a pin would be simple enough, though given the fact I sometimes put this machine in a portable case vs in a cabinet, Im considering making something similar to older knee-controlled Berninas or Elna machines, where the lever is in several sections that fold out, to facilitate storing it inside the lid of the case. Regardless of what I end up doing in regards to construction, I very much appreciate your information as while the 117s are rare in this country, the knee levers for them are nigh nonexistant and being able to see and hear what an original is like is invaluable. Ill be sure to check out those other videos as well!