Bernina 910

It has now been a few months since I purchased this machine, but I'm just getting around to sharing how this machine came to live with me. It was the first day of Spring Break and T sent me a link for a free machine that someone was giving away. I contacted the poster, but the machine had already been picked up. Since I was already online, I took a quick look around Craigslist to see if there were any other interesting machines. Yes, there was a Bernina 910 offered. The pictures were not great, but the blue on the machine caught my eye and the machine was close by so it was worth investigating.

She looked like a beauty, but seller didn't take any photos with the machine out of the cabinet

In one drawer I saw the corners of what I hoped were the instruction manual and the accessories box

The machine was listed as 'needing some light repair' and when I inquired about its history I found that it had not been used in a few years. The seller said the machine turned on, but would not make a stitch. I was still interested and arranged to see the machine that afternoon.

The cabinet was in rough shape and in need of a good cleaning. A quick peek in the drawers confirmed that the instruction manual and accessories box were included. When I looked under the needle plate, I saw thread wrapped around the bobbin casing and a significant amount of lint buildup. The hand wheel turned freely when I tried it. This machine had been neglected in her cabinet, but she was ready to be cleaned up and put to work.

Before cleanup

Dials are filthy, but turn smoothly

Missing its tray

Dirty, but bobbin casing and hook in good condition

Lint packed around and behind the feed dogs

A bit dry on the top, but no cracked gears

Stitch selector operates smoothly between all 7 options

I cleaned inside and out and I replaced the bulb with a new LED. Under the layers of cigarette smoke, dirt, lint, and dried oil was a solid machine with no cracked or broken parts. The bobbin winder worked on the first try and the machine threaded up easily. A prior owner had played with both the upper and lower tensions so it took a few minutes to reset those. It stitched beautifully both straight and zig-zag, forward and reverse. One thing that is taking a little getting used to is the definitive click that the hand wheel does when I take my foot off pedal. I think this is the machine moving the needle to the full up position at the end of every seam, but it is a loud click and I thought something was wrong at first. The manual mentions the electronic system that moves the needle, but it does not suggest an ideal noise level. I searched online to find where someone identified and acknowledged this click, but I haven't found anything yet so I'm still a bit worried that maybe it shouldn't be quite that loud? If you have a Bernina 910, can you let me know if that's a normal sound?

All cleaned up

7 decorative stitches and bobbin winder on top

Hand wheel has silver colored cap

Still no tray, but clean

Lint gone

Instruction manual

Full accessories case

Power cord and blue foot control

And a Bernina brochure for the 910

The brochure says "-youthful - for a lifetime", are they referring to the machine or the sewist who chooses this machine?  Did I just luck into a fabulous new machine and the fountain of youth?