Two machines, both alike in dignity, on a fair table where we lay our scene...
Last week a customer dropped off her Necchi Lelia 513 for a tuneup. The machine looked great and I was thinking it would just need cleaning and oiling. It turns out the zig-zag stitch selector was frozen up. After an overnight soaking in Tri-Flow, the machine loosened up was able to stitch the range of zig-zag widths and stitch lengths.
Since the customer was out of town for the week and had left her machine with me, I took the opportunity to get my own Necchi Lelia 513 out for a side-by-side comparison. The customer's machine has had a single owner in its lifetime and still has it's original papers and accessories. My machine came from Goodwill and has some accessories. I knew that the machines were in different cases (customers was a Necchi case, mine a generic plastic model) and had different foot controllers, but I was expecting them to be almost identical other than that. Nope, there were quite a few other differences. Here is a front view of each machine. How many difference do you notice?
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| My machine--referred to as #1 |
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| Customer's Machine--referred to as #2 |
From the front I noticed the following:
- Bobbin-winder-- #1 on top of machine, #2 on front next to hand wheel
- Stitch length selector and upper tension knobs
- Automatic buttonholer selector knob-- #1 top front, #2 missing
- Thread guides-- both for upper thread to needle and to bobbin-winder
- On/Off switch and Lo/Hi switch for the speed of the motor: #1 not available, #2 on the bed to the far right
Then I looked at the machines from the top. One machine is threaded, the other is not. This shot gives a better view of the bobbin-winder on machine #1 and the differences in the thread guides. n You can also see a difference in width of the hand wheels.
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| Machine #1 |
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| Machine #2 |
The third view is from the end. See the on/off and lo/hi switches on machine #2? And machine #2 has a pink motor and motor support, it blends in nicely with the machine.
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| Machine #1 |
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| Machine #2 |
From the back the different color motors is eye-catching. Also noticeable is the light switch at the top right on machine #1 and the plastic vs. metal presser foot lever.
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| Machine#1 |
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| Machine #2 |
A few close-up pictures revealed details in tension knobs, thread guides, bobbin-winders, and bobbin race covers.
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| Machine #1 |
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| Machine #2 |
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| Machine #1, Bobbin-winder |
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| Machine #2, Bobbin-winder |
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| Machine #1, Plastic bobbin race cover |
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| Machine #2, Metal bobbin race cover |
Lastly, a look at the foot controllers.
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| Machine #1 |
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| Machine #2, Original petal |
Both machines are Necchi Lelia 513's made in Italy. Their pink/cream paint and Necchi decals are in great shape and they sew beautifully. The customer's machine was originally purchased in March of 1967. My machine did not come with any original purchase information. Lelia 513 was produced from 1961-?, so our machines could be a few years apart.
I had a great time playing the 'same or different' game with these two machines. I definitely won't be able to do that with every machine that comes my way, so this was a treat.
For never was a story of more fun
Than this of Lelia and the other one
Great post. Very interesting. Just curious what is the serial number on your necchi lelia motor? Ive heard that that can date the motor and therefore the machine if the motor is original to the machine. Might also help to figure out what year yours was made. In addition, what is your serial number etched into underneath edge of your machine? Again, it could be helpful to determine which style was earlier or later. My guess is yours is slightly later (1968-1971). Am I right?
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