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| Elna:Elnasuper (Sewing Machine) | | Viewed 562 time(s) | | Review rated Very Helpful by 8 people | | Reviewed by: | johnr55 | About johnr55 | | TX USA | | Member since: 3/22/08 | | Reviews written: 22 | | Sewing skills:Intermediate | | Favored by: 1 people | | sewing machines reviewed: 10 | | Bio: Freehand machine embroiderer and freehand quilter since early 80's, virtually no garment sewing. Healthcare manager, sewing work is a hobby. No interest in computerized embroidery machines out now--I ...full profile |
| | Posted on: | 3/22/08 6:58 PM | | Approx price paid: | $300 | | Had this machine for: | 7 years | | Recommended? | Yes | Features
- Drop-In bobbin
- Free Arm
- Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
| | What johnr55 likes about this machine
This review is for the Star-series Elnasuper, made from 1964-72. This machine replaced the Supermatic, and was replaced in the seventies by the Air Electronic, then updated to the Carina.
I grew up with a mother who had a Star-series Elnasuper, who sewed for my sister all through her growing-up years. My mother had an old used Necchi and an awful Singer of the early sixties. I remember her Elna was about $275--quite a lot of money in those days--a flatbed in a cabinet, and a machine which served her well through countless garments until she replaced it in the late 80's.
The Star series replaced the older round-topped Supermatic, though it works much the same way. These machines are very Euro-looking, very minimalist compared to our White and Singer machines of the time. In fact, they still look quite appropriate today! The Elna drop-in bobbin was famous for its smooth and quiet operation, and mine is still amazingly smooth. The big advantage for those into fiber arts with these Elnas is the ease of adjusting lower tension. There's a simple little screw that is much more reliable to adjust than a separate bobbin case. Additionally, it's possible to put such things as wooly nylon and perle cotton in the bobbin!
I also own an Air Electronic, and the smooth, quiet, precision operation of these machines is still remarkable to me. Very much like a Swiss watch. Of course, this machine is all-metal. Unlike the later models, the Star series does have little red oiling ports on its top cover, but keep it oiled and it seems to run forever. It stitches at about 2/3 the speed of my Berninas, but for a garment sewer they'd never notice the difference. These machines have an ingenious hard outer cover that converts to a sewing table--why doesn't anyone make one of these now? The smooth, buttery feel to the manual controls and knobs is typical of top European machines, and sadly lacking in so many others.
Being an Elnasuper, it takes the standard and readily-available Elna cams. Elna was the first manufacturer with "superautomatic" stitches, such as the triple straight stitch and the double overlock so common now. There are still a lot of the Elna Star series machines around; they are very durable machines whose classic European casing disguises a robust internal construction once the envy of the sewing industry.
By the way, don't confuse these classic Swiss Elnas with what's coming out now. In 1996, Tavaro of Geneva sold the name to the Asians at Tacony. In one move, the brand lost its reputation and much of its market. I bought my first Bernina shortly thereafter. What johnr55 does not like about this machine
The older Star series Elnas used the traditional resistor-type foot pedal. I doubt it would be a problem. Elna, in fact, was the first manufacturer in the 60's to come out with an electronic foot pedal, used on the later Star machines. There is a very wide array of stitches available, but they use the older cam technology. Many of these machines were sold-Elna was a top brand back then-but many had a hard life also. Were I purchasing one, I would buy from a reputable sewing machine dealer, as I did mine. | *LOGIN to add a comment to this review
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| Reader Comments | | got2bjennyg | 3/22/08 | Great review! | | * * * | | Betakin | 3/23/08 | I loved reading this review as well as the others you have written. Thanks for taking the time to write them. | | * * * | | SusanClaire | 3/23/08 | I love the Elna star series, I have a 62C SU, also an air electronic. My mom and brother have them too. I got mine at an estate sale. I also like my Elna Diva but the Super is much more precise.
I recently got a Elna 6003 QT. I like the needle threader and auto tie off but I still prefer the Super or the Diva. However the Elna 6005 QT is a much less expensive machine that the Diva was even without factoring in for inflation.
A slight point of clarification:
In 1996 Elna Tavaro sold to Curt Arvidson, President of Elna, Inc. and Elna International Corporation, who turned over US distribution to Tacony Corp. Tacony is a privately held US corporation based in Felton, MO. They are not "Asians."
In 2006, Arvidson took back distribution and then sold to Janome who set up the new company Elna USA. Arvidson is from Sweden and Janome is a Japanese company. | | * * * | | bestgrammy | 3/23/08 | Wonderful review...thanks. | | * * * | | johnr55 | 3/23/08 | Thanks for the elaboration on the Tacony deal. I cut out the intermediate steps for brevity's sake. The end result is the same--the Elna name acquired a kimono, unfortunately. | | * * * | | iamsewhappy | 4/3/08 | Thank you for an excellent review. I have used this machine for 35 years, and it is still great. | | * * * | | Rita123 | 4/9/08 | Thank you for such an informative review. I too have an Elna SU that's at least 40 years old, purchased 15 years ago at a yard sale. I'ts NEVER skipped a stich or required repair and I'm an avid sewer. I've made many, many tote bags on this machine, too, and it continues to be a workhorse. Wouldn't trade it for anything. . . I'm clueless about the cams, though. don't know how to use those and my instruction booklet is very detailed. (Hmmm. . .) Thank you again for so much useful information! :-) | | * * * |
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