Date: 10/25/09 11:46 PM

I found a Bernina 1530 for sale at a very good price, $400. I've really been wanting to get into sewing, and my daughter has at least twice my interest, lol. She's 10, so I was considering getting her a machine for Christmas. The one I was looking at at the local dealer is the Brother innov-is40, for $350, but I'd really rather have a Bernina, and this one looks like it has all the features I wanted. Computerized, auto buttonholes, no stop/start button, but it does have the knee bar thingy. Lots of stitches, but only 2 feet (this could be a prob, since I couldn't use all those stitches without the feet, and I know the feet are pricey(!!))
What do you think?

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Date: 10/25/09 11:59 PM

My friend has this machine, which she purchased used. It's a tank. (Many Berninas are...). Heavier than my "modern" Bnina, and sewed very well. She pieced a heavy quilt on it, and then we bound it. Some people don't like the "trackball" feature, but others are fine w it. I think it's the last Bernina model w all-metal parts, and is kind of a coveted machine.
The feet are $, but you can always buy on sale, or scour the various sewing sites/PR classifieds/ebay for feet. The older feet are less, I think.

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Date: 10/26/09 0:06 AM

I did not see any on eBay to compare prices. $400 would be good if you were sure the machine was low use, all stitches work properly and it has the correct foot pedal, knee bar, extension table etc. Do they have service receipts? Does the machine have a sticker on it from a service store?
Read the reviews here on the machine. I have the 1630 which I love but I have heard the 1530 is a better machine from some sources. I find that hard to believe since my 1630 is so wonderful though! Let us know what you decided.
BTW, You can always offer low--and you could come up. You can't go the other way though

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Bernina 1630, Brother ULT 2002D, PE Design NEXT, BES Lettering, Janome CoverPro 1000, Babylock Eclipse SX, Juki MO654DE, Singer 15-91, Janome 1600PDB, Remington Japanese Clone

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Date: 10/26/09 0:17 AM

Thanks dfsews, and Mrs. Moos. The machine has 8 positive reviews on this board also. The person says that they have not used it for 5 years. It does have the case and foot pedal. My mom has an 830, but I would rather have auto buttonholes, and a few other features. If I do make an offer, I'll remember to "offer low" if I do take the plunge. I hate to even ask, but do any of you who have a newer brother innov-is line also have an older Bernina that you could lay out the pros and cons for? I really need something user-friendly :)

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Date: 10/26/09 0:36 AM

I WOULD definately check it out thoroughly if they say it has been sitting for 5 years! I have seen machines "lock up" from non-use. Is there a way you could get them to service it and get the technician's opinion if you paid full price? Or offered say-$25 more? That sitiing 5 years would raise a red flag for me. Sitting where? Where the moisture could have built up? Extremes in temps like a storage shed? I would be cautious and really check it out. It could be the sweet deal of a lifetime or the machine from---well you-know-where
BTW--Keep that 830--they are great machines too-you could have literally the best of both worlds--computerized (1530)and mechanical (830)!

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Bernina 1630, Brother ULT 2002D, PE Design NEXT, BES Lettering, Janome CoverPro 1000, Babylock Eclipse SX, Juki MO654DE, Singer 15-91, Janome 1600PDB, Remington Japanese Clone

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Date: 10/26/09 0:43 AM

Thanks Mrs. Moos, I had heard that there could be problems with computerized machines, but assumed that it would be a tank like my mom's 830, so I don't know that I would have thought to ask that. The 830 isn't going anywhere, it's my mom's and I don't think she'll ever sell it (she bought it new so many years ago.) Incidentally, my sister has an older Bernina (pre 830) that I'm getting serviced and in order for her birthday. The certified service tech has been doing it for years and only charges $52.50 and he'll work on it at your house!! (The local Bernina dealer wanted $90 plus.)

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Reply to SamaraK.
Date: 10/26/09 7:41 AM

I bought my 1530 in 1993 (it was a TOL demo). It still operates perfectly and I absolutely love it! $400 is a good price if the machine is in good working condition, but you'll spend lots more $$ getting the additional feet. Wonder what happened to the all the feet that the machine came with in the accessory box?
Are you able to test the machine? Without a test drive and/or technical service/inspection I would hesitate to buy any used machine. And sitting unused for 5 years is definitely a red flag.
It sounds like this machine will cost you way more than $400 when the dust finally settles. And I don't have any experience with other brands to compare with, sorry.

Gail

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Reply to SamaraK.
Date: 10/26/09 8:44 AM

Is that the machine on Craigslist.. because it may be turned in as a stolen machine. and then you could not get it serviced..if its the same machine ..

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Reply to SamaraK.
Date: 10/26/09 10:34 AM

I would not buy any used machine ever if I could not "test drive" it. One of my Berninas came from an estate sale. I was just poking around out of curiosity, saw the machine, wanted to try it but of course they people running the sale had no thread. I ran home, got a spool of thread & some scrap fabric, came back & set it up and tested it out. It is weird that the seller does not have the feet that came in the accessory case. This machine came with an accessory case that attaches to the free arm---is that still there? Does the seller have the manual? There are a few feet that I use most of the time: the regular straight stitch foot, another foot that is used for most of the decorative stitches, a zipper foot and a buttonhole foot. Not to say you wouldn't need any others, but I do find myself using these four most of all. Even if you have to buy a few feet, I personally think that $400 is a good price for this machine if it runs great. Why don't you tell the seller you want to sit down and test drive it, bring your own thread and several types of fabric, and see what you think.

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Reply to SamaraK.
Date: 10/26/09 10:48 AM

$400 is a great price for the machine but you will also spend close to that to buy feet if it doesn't have them. The machine is a classic and sews beautiful, has tons of stitches and memory to design your own including alphabets. The machine is a trackball that some love and some hate. It has the great needle up/down feature buy tapping the end of the foot peddle with your heel. It also has all of those features on the display so you can set it where you want. It takes a little longer because you have to use the trackball just like rolling a mouse around on a computer screen, not as fast as hitting a button.
The feet are in a box that attaches to the sewing machine making it a flatbed, it is in the back of the bed area....hopefully it is there. The machine comes with great feet so if it appears to have an attachment on the bed that is where you will find the feet. The machine shouldn't need much maintenance other then oiling the bobbin area.
Well...I hope the feet show up, it's a steel if you find all of the feet but I wouldn't care to buy them if it was me.
I also have tested the invnovis40 and that isn't in the same catagory as the Bernina but for someone starting out and being 10 it might be a more "fun" machine for her. It is a great stitching machine and is lighter weight which most young people enjoy so they can tote them around. My dog sitters mom got one and she loves it! It has a 7mm zig zag over the 1530's, 5 mm stitch and feet are cheap and it is a very friendly machine to use. I have been very impressed by the brother machines and then you are getting a new machine for her with feet and lessons if needed. Just some thought

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