Since the 1930's, the highest
quality sewing machines that have ever been produced have come to us
from Switzerland and Germany. Even machines such as the
Bernina 117L made in 1938 are considered high quality by today's
standards and in many ways are far superior to sewing machines
manufactured today. A Swiss or German made sewing machine could be
expected to provide reliable service for several generations of sewers
and quilters.
Those days are gone.
Today we live in a world of
planned product obsolescence. Since 1990, manufacturers have
been designing products for a shorter service life. These new
methods, reduces their manufacturing costs and ensures a continued
steady market for new products as a matter of survival. The
upside for the consumer is a continued flow of new ideas and but the
downside is that new products are now less reliable over the long run
and repairs are more expensive due to computerization and
electromechanical failure. Additionally, if one were to consider the
possibility of our current economic downturn and the potential failure
of domestic economies, high-tech gizmos look less and less attractive.
What about that old Bernina you
haven't used in years?
Swiss made sewing machines
manufactured prior to 1990 can still provide many years of reliable,
high quality sewing operation…IF they are in proper adjustment, and IF
replacement parts can be found to repair them.
The challenge today for owners
of older Bernina machines is to find dealers that still know how to
work on these vintage machines, and can still get parts for
them. You may have heard statements such as “your
machine is worn out and there are no parts available to repair them”.
Well this is partially true since these machines represent competition
for new machine sales, and it is true that the manufacturer no longer
makes replacement parts for them.
That's where SewTechnical can
help.
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