Posted 11 years ago
hoosiersew…
(1 item)
My great aunt gave me her vintage Elna sewing machine, but I can't figure out what model it is. I think she got it in the 60s. It looks very similar to the Elna TSP, but mine only has the straight stitch option. It comes with all parts, a grey carrying case and the manuals. But, the manuals only say for the machine Elna. Any help on identifying the model, would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Should be a plate on the motor cover at the rear which will have a model number and serial number.
Maybe an SU60 or SU62? Late 60s early 70s.
It is the Star, the first of the Star Series. The updated model was the EC. Ismacs isn't entirely clear about the names, but they are printed on the machines, and yours shows the * sign for Star. Other models are e.g. Zig Zag * while there is also the Zig Zag model without star.
This model is included in the manual for all the Star models (except the TSP), available online.
https://ismacs.net/elna/ss.html
Elninha, Thank you for adding knowlege to this old VSM post. :-)
This Google IO forum has some interesting tidbits about the history and serial numers of the Elna Star Series:
*snip*
Serial number 1392840 = 1963 and 1440221 = 1964. Beginning in 1960 the serial number for the Elna II and Elna III machines begin with the number one and the second number is the year of manufacture. Beginning in 1963 with the Star Series machines the formula was changed, for the Star series NOT the Elna II and III, and a letter used at the beginning of the serial number determined the year of manufacture for that model. For the years 1963 and 1964 BOTH machines were being produced by Elna and the serial number for these two different types of machines used different formulas for determining the year of manufacture from the serial number. Officially the first model year for the Star series was 1964, however theses model machines began to be manufactured in late 1963.
*snip*
https://groups.io/g/ElnaHeirloomSewingMachines/topic/different_model_type_numbers/85155862
More about the Elna Star Series:
https://www.ashleyandthenoisemakers.com/blog/2015/6/21/elna-super-64c-review
In ten years the answer had not been found. It was too sad to leave it at that!
The year of manufacture can indeed also be determined. Manufactured between 1964 and 1972, the serial numbers would begin with B for 1964, until M in 1972, because 1969 had G and H.
I read on the groups.io site that the Star and EC were shortlived. But there is at least one person there with a Star machine, so if the OP still wants information, it's there. See https://groups.io/g/ElnaHeirloomSewingMachines/message/6164
Elninha,
"In ten years the answer had not been found. It was too sad to leave it at that!"
Well, in truth, there probably aren't too many Collectors Weekly Show & Tell users left who care a lot about vintage sewing machines.
I'm one of them, and I've been remiss in not at least trying to backfill information on all of the old VSM posts, if only because there are still a lot of VSM owners out there on the InterTubes in general desperately searching for information.
Here's somebody who has two Elna Star Series sewing machines:
http://kofa.mmto.arizona.edu/sewing/elna/
I know of a CW S&T user who has inherited an Elna SU, so perhaps they'll see these updates and find some value in them.
Thanks again. :-)
Thanks, interesting link. Would not have thought the foot pedal connection of the SU to be different from the Supermatic/Elnasuper. It's a pity the mentioned needlebar.org site is offline. It seemed to have very good information on Elnas.
I found this site looking for a picture of the Star Series EC. The only one I don't have yet for my file on the Star Series. If you find one, please let me know.
Elninha, Ordinarily, needlebar dot org could be accessed via archive dot org; however, right now the latter is also offline, probably because of the recent hack.
Hopefully, archive dot org will get their troubles sorted, because it's a tremendous resource.
However, a caveat about needlebar: that website is tied up in the estate of the late OP.
I'll keep my eyes peeled for pictures of the Elna Star EC.
Per this Elna Star service manual, that would be either a class 11 (free arm) or 13 (flat bed), yes?:
https://www.etsy.com/no-en/listing/577064630/vintage-elna-star-ec-zz-sp-st-su-tsp-cl
Ah, yes, I tried archive yesterday and today to view needlebar, and couldn't. But will check back later. Yes, the EC is 11C or 13C. They used the ZZ for all the picture in that manual. Thanks for keeping an eye out for the EC. I discovered there is also an SU 62D from 1976. It has a lever to switch between 220 and 110 volt.
Elninha:
"Yes, the EC is 11C or 13C. They used the ZZ for all the picture in that manual."
I confess that I don't even know exactly what the Elna Star EC looks like.
FYI, I found an eBay listing for a Elna Star 11C, and indeed, the label in the electric plug area does read "11C;" however, the picture of the whole front of the machine suggests an Elna Star Series original model, because I spy the little asterisk character near the needlebar end of the machine:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284916914578
Keramikos, the EC looks exactly like the "Star", except for the "EC" in place of a *. It's not really needed to have a picture of it, but I just like one for the file, because I have all the others. The picture for the * itself is actually more important, because it's so peculiar a model name.
The fact that there is a green Supermatic, a Star Series Supermatic, and a Star Series Supermatic *, does not help matters. On Ismacs, the Star Series info is spread over categories like Special, Zig Zag, Supermatics, while there is also a Zig Zag Special *.
Hence, sellers often label the Star Series models incorrectly, omitting the type number. It makes it hard to find a specific model. Hence my file on distinguishing characteristics.
Elninha:
"It's not really needed to have a picture of it, but I just like one for the file, because I have all the others."
Yep, I getcha. It's like a collection, and one likes to have a comprehensive one. };-)
FYI, archive dot org is back in a limited capacity now; but you have to use a slightly differnt link to get to it:
*snip*
Safe to resume but might need further maintenance, in which case it will be suspended again.
Please be gentle web.archive.org
*snip*
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:73dpznbu4wqwtcyurwbiulov
Here's a Wayback archive of needlebar's Elna page from January 2019:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190105143119/http://www.needlebar.org/main/elna/index.html
Keramikos, that is very helpful! Screenshotted the Elna page in case it disappears.
One "filing" reason to find a picture of the EC, is to see if it really has the white and gold knobs, while all the others, SU, ZZ etc, have the silver knobs. I always say I'm not a collector, but I do "collect" info. :)
Elninha:
"Keramikos, that is very helpful! Screenshotted the Elna page in case it disappears."
You're welcome. :-)
Yes, a screenshot seems prudent.
FYI, the reason why I went with a 2019 archive snapshot is that seems to be the last year when there were a lot of snapshots; however, there are of course others if you want to nose around:
https://web.archive.org/web/20240000000000*/http://www.needlebar.org/main/elna/index.html
It looks like the needlebar elna page was still accessible on July 13, 2024:
https://web.archive.org/web/20240713102640/http://www.needlebar.org/main/elna/index.html
"One "filing" reason to find a picture of the EC, is to see if it really has the white and gold knobs, while all the others, SU, ZZ etc, have the silver knobs. I always say I'm not a collector, but I do "collect" info. :)"
Information is about the only thing I myself still try to collect. };-)