The Brilliant Bernina 117L - Sewing Demo

Before this machine goes back to its lucky owner, I'd like to show you how well it sews.
This machine is very smooth, fast and produces a beautiful satin stitch.
Please consider supporting the channel at Patreon - / sewingmachines
Web Site - www.institches.co.nz
Index:
0:00 - Introduction
0:45 - Brief description of some of the controls
2:06 - Sewing demonstrations
7:13 - Conclusion and thanks

[@emilyrobinson6080]

I am so absolutely thrilled that I own one of these machines, I treated myself to the purchase using a portion of the first paycheck I made working in theater costuming out of school, thats been almost 8 years ago and its given me nothing but joy. Some may say I spent too much for an old machine, but aside from having to fashion my own final thread guide on the needle bar, and having to replace the crumbling wires when i got it, its been my go-to machine for nearly all of my work. I fabricated a knee lift lever based on specs and photos of an original, and all of my sewing friends are more than a bit jealous. This really is an industrial tailor's machine in the footprint of a domestic, its dead silent even running wide open zigzags, smoother in action than polished agate, and I genuinely cannot say enough good things about this machine. I hope to keep it in top shape and if im lucky, it should still be going strong for my children someday, and likely even beyond. not to mention, the fact it uses industrial system needles saves me quite a bit of money as I can secure dozens in every variety I could want for just a few dollars USD. Im fairly young but have sewn on and repaired over 100 sewing machines, and I dont think its the least bit misguided to say that the 117L is the finest machine I have ever had the pleasure of using, and its a pleasure to call mine.

[@mjremy2605]

I did not know that sewing machine needles can come in domestic or industrial varieties, huh! Learned something new today, thanks for the comment. Can I use industrial needles in my other domestic machines like a vintage Kenmore and one that is dated 1952 - 1967, all metal Universal type machine? What about a series 6000 Viking Husqvarna 6030 machine? I'd love to know.

[@emilyrobinson6080]

@@mjremy2605 doubtful, a machine is designed with a certain needle system in mind. For domestics its usually the 15x1 system and its descendants. Needles within that system will have the same shank diameter, length, eye position etc that the machine is designed to work with and while some needles outside of that system might possibly work with finagling or modification, its not ideal.

[@5onCover]

Do you know how to find. Replacement motor mount for the 117. I need one for my machine. Thank you for your comment.

[@emilyrobinson6080]

@@5onCover it depends on your motor, the 117 came with several ranging from friction drive to belt drive (i assume you mean a domestic motor mounted to the rear of the column and not an industrial motor suspended beneath the table) but there should be several replacement options so long as it will fit your motor and the small machined surface to screw it to the machine. If all else fails theyre fairly simple to make with a bit of sheet metal and basic tools to cut and drill it and a vise to hold it for bending.

[@rmcdaniel423]

Definitely on my "bucket list" for my vintage machine collection. Here in the U.S., I've never seen one come up for sale locally.

[@ironwolfusa]

That is beautiful! Such style that is not found today.

[@cynthiacarter532]

Love the sound of it and it's built like a tank! Different world before plastics, so many old sounds are now gone.

[@SH1974]

I came from the 217-Industrial to the 117 (meanwhile 117's) because I love building hostorical kite replicas with historical sewing machines. One of the things I love the most on the Class 117 machines is the knee lever (pressr foot lifter). Bernina's first Zig-Zag machine was also their first one with the comfortable knee lever function. The 117 is imo the best sewing machine ever made: so smooth, so strong, so useful and soooo reliable. I hope I'll be still alive and sewing when my 117's will complete their first century of age.

[@christelgrimmer4478]

Thank you for the demonstration. Going to look at one tomorrow, in a cabinet, which I am not to keen on, but the machine has the embroidery unit. It is at a decent price( imo here in Australia) and belonged to a seamstress.

[@mimicope3404]

That is a beautiful sewing machine ❤

[@andrewmandywilsontatham49]

Beautiful! Lovely stitch. I have a 117K, and have just recently acquired a 217 as well, the full industrial model based on the 117. Can't wait to try it out, but I have no manual so atm will base oiling on the 117 diagram

[@marksmale827]

Beautiful. Love the sound of it.

[@manosoareskommunikationsde7908]

Absolutely Beautiful

[@beakittelscherz5419]

Dang... this Thing is Smoooooth. AwesomeReally enjoyable to watch Greets from Germany

[@charmainekirk1512]

Wow cool!

[@Katelouisehead]

Do you have any suggestions on where to source a motor for one of these babies? Or even a pedal for the og motor?

[@katehead5356]

What is a good motor for one of these machines? Scored one from the tip shop but no power cord and I’d prefer a new motor

[@alp-1960]

Excellent! Did you get the motor fixed? I recall from the first video there was some movement of the motor that shouldn't have been happening.

[@InStitches]

Yes, the motor mount needed some work. Thanks.

[@1953childstar]

Hello, is that a "rotary hook" ??? I had a Swiss made Calanda machine that was very similar. I think they made very few of them, because "Calanda" is known for being a Japanese made Pfaff machine. Mine came from the Heinrich Gelbert factory in Switzerland.

[@InStitches]

Yes, it's a horizontal rotary hook. Thanks.

[@Katelouisehead]

Huh also don't have the same needle position knobs!mines a knob on the back

[@MrKirinren]

Hey, does anyone know where to get a wooden base for a Bernina 117?

[@mjremy2605]

Make one. Use nice wood and let the grain show. Maybe Cherry wood to contrast with the green color? Should be easy to make yourself. Why buy? Use Paduka, Cherry, Mahogany, or Cedar to make a wooden base. You can get hinges easily. My thinking is to take a vintage sewing cabinet, refinish it, add a linear actuator lift, and place your machine on it. Alternatively, construct a long table, solid with aluminum extrusions, and add multiple linear lifts along the way to store each of your sewing machines. Press one button and out pops the Bernina 117L. Press another and out pops a Kenmore, or Singer, or Viking, or Elna! When not in use, they are below ground, table is long and ready for sewing anything. Each machine has a cover below the surface so no dust or grime. I would pick a reddish wood to go with the green Bernina. Alternatively, you could use Walnut or heat-treated Poplar which looks like Walnut. Don't stain, sand down with 320/400 grit, then Boiled Linseed Oil, wipe off excess, dry 2 days. Seal with oil based Clear Satin Interior Polyurethane diluted 50% with Mineral Spirits. Brush on, wipe off excess, dry, recoat 3 times. Done for 200 yrs.

[@MrKirinren]

@@mjremy2605 Thanks!

[@robertengl9152]

Please do a video on the 930

[@InStitches]

I'll try to get one done within the next couple of months. Thanks.

[@marksmale827]

Probably the best domestic SM ever made. One where “they got everything right”. The only problem is the basting stitch which tends to seize up if not used regularly. But always fixable. The faster semi-industrial versions of it (940, 950) with a rotary hook are long-time favourites of seamstresses.

[@bartellinomathis5161]

@@marksmale827 Agreed. The Bernina 9xx was the mechanical sewing machine era at its best. I would prefer a 930 above a 940 or 950 anytime though, because it also boasts the reverse stretch stitches while the 940 and 950 didn't. Those reverse stretch stitches weren't only a nice innovation for sewing jersey and other stretchy materials, it also allows for some pretty neat heirloom hemstitching (I think that is the term... we call it ajour in my part of the world). And well, the first Bernina ever produced was a hemstitcher... So the 930 record kind of made that circle round. The irony of it all is that this apex of the mechanical era was at the same time the beginning of the digital era. Because of those reverse stitches... it was also the first domestic Bernina with a chip in it. And that's probably why some vintage Bernina afficionados prefer the 830 record above the 930 record: because that chip has become the achilles heel of the 930. When I asked, the technician at my authorized Bernina dealer confirmed me that they cannot repair or replace them anymore. Anyways, it's a wonderful machine, looking forward to that video too!

[@rndea100]

how much do these sell for are they industrial ???

[@marksmale827]

Semi-industrial, in that they are more robust and faster than most domestic machines of that era. They normally go for a few hundred dollars.

[@123reivax123]

It seems the motor doesn't stop dead.

[@InStitches]

That's right, the machine is so free to run that the inertia keeps the machine from stopping dead. You can stop it manually by stopping the hand wheel if need be. Thanks.

[@christiankolinski1563]

The Bernina Class 117 are really nice, sturdy and cheap machines. Although I never kept them for long, mostly because they don't use the "Standard" 130/705H/15x1 needles but need 287 WH needles, which I need to get mailorder, and getting anything more special than a universal maybe a SUK (Jersey/Ballpoint) can be hassle.

[@InStitches]

The 287WH needles are used in industrial plain sewing machines and are very common and easy to get here. I keep 100s of them in stock, of all types including SUK and SES ball point and the like. Most sewing machine suppliers should have them. Thanks for your comment.

[@christiankolinski1563]

@@InStitches Your customers are very lucky to have you to take care for this need. I'm kinda envious ;). Unfortunately you're on the other side of the globe. Most shops around here don't stock them (some might order them in - for a price, of course - if supplied with the Schmetz catalog number), and the few mailorder shops I can get them mostly have universals. The shops taking care of the industrial side of things have a minimum order of 500 to 1000 each type, which would last me more than three lifetimes, or even longer for the more special types like leather needles. Which is a shame, as (I'm near the German/Swiss border, the Bernina factory is just about an hours drive away) those machines are quite common here. Seems a bit of an ignored market. Last 117K I got for €20 (treadle version, so motor needed to be sourced extra, but that's no big deal), and it just needed a good clean. Ah, well, I'm sticking mostly to the Pfaff side of things for now. Found a nice Paff 30 stright stich machine for 30Eur last weekend (with motor, feet, manual), which needs a bit of a clean, but sews just fine.

[@InStitches]

@@christiankolinski1563 Thanks for your kind words. I can see how a 1000 needles would last many lifetimes if you're just using the odd one here and there :) I don't see many of these Bernina machines around these parts. I see the 117K is quite rare. Are they rare over there?

[@christiankolinski1563]

@@InStitches My last answer seem's to got stuck in the void, so in short: No, I don't consider them rare, at least in Switzerland. There are always about 10 in the online auctions ending in the next 2 weeks, a handful of them in the small ads, and on flea-markets and thrift-stores around Zurich I see them about once or twice a month. So not "plenty" but available. Never really counted how much are 117L (with the automatic stitches like the one in the video) or the 117K (zigzag and stright-stich only), but the K seems to be more common.

[@InStitches]

@@christiankolinski1563 Thanks for the info.