Knee-Lever and other functions of the vintage Bernina KL 117 sewing maschine

As You can see, I do own 2 of this Knee-Kevers to the Bernina "FHS" (Free-hands-system) of my vintage Bernina KL 117.
They have slightly different shapes (bendings) and different surface coatings: one is chromed, the other is black anodized. Both are steel.
The black one camed with the lower serial Number of the Maschine, but that gives not really an indicator that this is the older lever. The bendings on the black lever are a bit more precise, better defined. That could be an indicator that the chrome one is the older - or it is a selfmade copy. The machine that comes with the chrome lever was the one showed in the Video. It has Serial Number 348849 and (as written in the Manual) it was sold on December the 2nd 1948.
Although this machine is antique, I don't use it as a collectors piece, I do use it! I really love to use this machine, espechally the "hands-free-system" (that is sooo comfortable!) and the nice feature to pre-select my 2 mostly used Zigzag widths.
Really, this is the best household sewing machine I've ever seen.
All metal, built to last decades.
Strong as a tractor but smooth like a cat. It can sew heavy canvas as well as fine silk.

[@451mijo]

My favorite one! But not as noisy.

[@SH1974]

The integrated microphone of my 12 Years old DSLR camera is not the best for recording videos or any kind of acoustic signals. The mechanics of the machine sounds beautiful and is very silent, so the camera turns up the microphone volume way too much, untill it is so extremely sensitive that You can even hear the fact that there is a new pair of collector-coals in the motor, which needs to run-in some longer. That faint whispering of the motor is what You hear as "noise" in this Video... ;)

[@stevenjennyfagan6284]

HI, I have a 117L and it didn’t come with the knee lift, would you be so kind as to advise the measurements and angles of the knee leaver so I can make one for my machine? Its highly unlikely that I will find one in NZ. Appreciate your consideration, your video is very good.

[@SH1974]

There is another Video in my channel that shows the lever. In the comments there are the measurements of it. It's easy to make such a lever, my brother-in-law has made one of a piece of rebar and a nail. ;)

[@andrewmandywilsontatham49]

Thanks for asking! I'm in Taranaki and have just acquired an almost mint 117k! Looks as if it takes the same bobbins and knee lever as my 540 Favorit.

[@emilyrobinson6080]

I have a bernina 117L that ive been searching for this lever for several years for, but apparently theyre infinitely rarer than the machine itself which is already rare here in the US. Youre probably not interested in selling one of yours (though if so let me know) but would you consider letting me know measurements and details of yours and i might be able to replicate it? Thanks for your time and any help with this

[@ammelois]

Ditto. I would be very interested too, in the knee lever specs

[@emilyrobinson6080]

@@ammelois talk about excellent timing! I just made a replacement lever for mine literally three days ago, and i can pass on what i learned. The lever is 8mm or 5/16” steel rod, theres a slight chamfer on the end that goes into the machine. There is a 3mm thick by 12mm long pin inserted through the rod 15mm from the end. I dont have the exact measurements on the bends, but it bends a few degrees to the right a few cm after coming out of the machine, then it bends back down under the table at an acute angle. I just went back and forth between my machine and a vise to bend it so it was out of the way for the most part and had clearance to fit under most tables at the distance i place the machine down on. Then i just marked the point where my knee met the rod tucked under the table and bent the remnant into a sort of loop shaped paddle. A 4 foot long rod of 5/16 steel rod was what I used as I didnt have access to metric, and the pin is from an old broken 3mm drill bit. I simply cut a portion of the unspiraled back end, rounded the ends a little and pressed it into the hole with some solder for good measure. I plan to put this machine in an industrial table especially if i can find an industrial treadle for it and at that point would probably convert it to use an under the table knee mechanism but for right now it works perfectly and is a game changer.

[@allisonjoel1]

Hi again. Thank you for demonstrating the Bernina. It looks like a fabulous sewing machine. Can you tell me if the knee lifter only lifts the foot and no other purpose? Regards. Allison

[@SH1974]

Hi. Yes, the Bernina class 117 is a phantastic machine. ALL METAL, built to last. This Machine in the Video - I own the original manual - has found its first owner on 2nd December 1948 - and it don't seems to be totally worn in the next few decades. The knee lever has only the function to lift the sewing foot. As long as you have not gotten used to this function, you can easily use the machine without this lever, like any other sewing Machine. But be warned: this feature is so handy, when you get used to it, you do not want to sew without it any more. NEVER AGAIN! Attention 1: often the lever is missed. If You're on to seek or choose a 117, ask if the lever is included! (some owners didn't know this function exists, even if the lever is included...) Attention 2: a few Class 117 machines are not prepared for this function! They have no mechanic (visible only on the backside of the machine) to lift the sewing foot. If You only see the frontside of the machine, You can discover them anyway: the hole (where the lever sits in) of this 117's has no metallic socket (with the notches for the lever) in it, it's just an empty black hole.

[@raztadeo2603]

Hi does the sound and speed of this machine depend on the motor attached to it? I love the sound It makes.

[@SH1974]

What You hear is mostly the sound of the motor. The mechanics of the machine are running extremely smooth and almost silent. So yes: Sound and speed are heavily dependent on the motor used. This one is a "Scintilla" Motor of the 50's. It consumes 0,5 Amps @ 220VAC, that is 110 watts. The motor has almost brandnew collector - coals. When he is runned-in better (like he was with the old coals), he'll be more silent and the sound will be less scratchy.

[@smallfootprint2961]

Just curious if you know where I can try to buy a good table for a 117K? The machine works great but is heavy and hard to get the bobbin in and out. It had an adapted table years ago but is long gone, so I need to get it all going again. Also the light hood is broken. Is that something I can replace?

[@SH1974]

My lamp also has a crack in the hood. Fixed it with instant glue, but bakelite is difficult to glue - especially if it's exposed to different temperatures. I know an adress here in switzerland who has some replacement parts (spooler rubbers, bobins and -cases, light bulbs...) but I've never seen any site (except Ebay) to buy tables, FHS-levers or new lamp hoods. Seen some interresting DIY tables and tabletop-plates for the 117 - maybe You have some carpenter tools (and skills) or maybe You know a carpenter?

[@smallfootprint2961]

@@SH1974 Thank you for your response. I'll take a look.

[@smallfootprint2961]

@@SH1974 ... If I can get that address, I might do some checking for parts. Thanks for the ideas.

[@SH1974]

@@smallfootprint2961 it's btrade.ch. They also have bunch of different needles in any system/size.

[@smallfootprint2961]

@@SH1974 ... Thank you. I'll give it a try.

[@vaccavo]

Oh, Lord, won't you but me a Bernina 117?

[@SH1974]

Here in Switzerland, they are not seldom or expensive. In condition like this one (*) they sell around 50 to 100 bucks. I even found one to pick up for free. Just a brilliant sewing machine! * this is pretty ("average") good but not outstanding original vintage condition. Just cleaned and oiled / unstucked her. Nothing repainted, polished or replaced. Okay, the treadling belt and the rubber for the bobbin winder had to be replaced, but except of that, those machines are built to last. (Btw: I have a 217-Industrial standing next to this one, but most time I prefer "the Brauty" over "the Beast")

[@wassilafelouat7795]

Hi..thank you so much ..can we embroide with this machine please ..if we can what is the way?.

[@SH1974]

There is a switch in the groundplate (a bit on the left where the FHS knee lever fits in the machine) to disable/lower the feed dogs. And this machine has a built-in automatic embroide-function that depresses the embroide-foot between the stitches, so you can move the fabric in any direction. (there is a Video here on KZbin about this function)

[@johnwilkinson5718]

How can I tell the age of my 117k?

[@SH1974]

Sadly there is no fabrication date code hidden in the serial number of the 117's and also no chart which serial number is when produced, so we (117-owners) can only guess the age of our machines. The class 117 machines have been produced between 1938 and 1945 - so the most precise specification about the age of Your machine is "about 70 Years of age".

[@johnwilkinson5718]

Thank you i wondered why i couldn't find an anything about them. Mine has a lower number than most of the ones i see listed for sale. Most start at 388 mine starts at 387.

[@johnwilkinson5718]

387625

[@SH1974]

​@@johnwilkinson5718the machine in the Video wears serial number 348849. I've got another one (without table or motor, I want to set it up as a tabletop-machine) which is numbered 346213. There are different versions of the 117: some have the the regulator for the needle-position as a slider above the zig-zag width adjustor (same as the later 217-industrial model) not like this one a knob on the machine's backside. Those machines mostly have a disc handwheel(*) and all serial numbers I know of those machines are above one million. (* one disc-handwheel is about the same size like this (spoked) handwheel, another disced flywheel model is way smaller.)

[@johnwilkinson5718]

@@SH1974 wow they're way older than mine. Mine is already an electric on a treadle table.

[@allisonjoel1]

Hi