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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: lightning57
Date: 11-30-2004, 08:10 PM (1 of 9)
Could someone please explain the numbering system for these machines from the first ones to the present? I have an 830. Whenever I search for information I find the numbering system confusing. Their web site is frustrating too. Thank you.
Sandra from SC
User: lightning57
Member since: 09-08-2000
Total posts: 119
From: grandmasue
Date: 11-30-2004, 10:33 PM (2 of 9)
I can only pass along the info that some of the first models were the 530 and 730. as the years went on the numbers got bigger. There was usually 2 numbers in each series, one being a more basic model and one having more bells and whistles. I think the other number was a 10, like 710, 910, not really sure. Somewhere along the way Bernina also produced an American made Bernina, (I believe the Brother company produced it). These had their own series of numbers. Its been 25 years since I sold Bernina's at the fabric store where I worked so most of this info is a bit fuzzy. I hope what i wrote is correct.
PS: my 730 was purchased in the early 70's so your's may be from the mid-70's range?
Grandma Sue

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At the end I am not showing up at my grave all pretty and well preserved...I am coming in sliding, yelling "What a ride!"
User: grandmasue
Member since: 10-26-2004
Total posts: 138
From: paroper
Date: 12-01-2004, 04:43 AM (3 of 9)
Beats me! My first Bernina was a 1530 purchased in 1992 and it was top of the line....a year (wonderful machine). It was electronic may have been one of the earlier electronic machines. The next TOL machine was a 1630. It had the ability to use some sort of "key" to do programmed embroidery. That was the first step into the true embroidery line of machines (very late in the game because New Home, Pfaff and others were already doing their thing much earlier). After that everything gets very muddled to me. Sometime several years after that Bernina introduced an embroidery Deco line that is just an embroidery set (no sewing) the first was made by Brother and the latest one is made by Janome. Those machines have been in the 600 series and the latest is a 330. Most of the machines that Bernina markets from another company (at least in the past) have not said Bernina but Bernette...don't know if that still holds true or not. They have a low end group of machines that are made by someone else right now that are in the one hundred series. But it gets nuts after that. There is a quilting line whose new quilt/embroidery machines will number in the 400's and be called the Aurora line. There is the old embroidery/sewing machine line whose numbers are in the 100's (160,170,180) with the top of that line (at least for the moment) being the 200 (called the Artista line) and in the same line, there are updated machines like the 185E. There has been a lot of confusion because they also have some new 200 machines that are numbered higher than the 200E which is their current flagship and that has lead to speculation about the future of the 200 and if it will be replaced (someday...when...who knows). However, they are naming their machine lines: Aurora (quilting/embroidery), Artista (sewing/embroidery), Deco (embroidery). They also have a solid quilting line and a solid (just) sewing line. I really think that they are moving away from the numbers signifying the type of machine to the names being the identifier. Currently the initials (E for embroidery, QE for quilt/embroidery) following the machine tells you what the machines (and sergers) are meant to do. (In sergers the "e" means electronic). That is something they have done for several years. I first noticed that with my serger purchased in 1992. Years ago the Singer Company made distinctions with their Dressmaker Series and the Touch and Sew Series. Bernina may feel that people are more likely to remember the name of a line than the numbers of machines...and they are probably right. At any rate, the newer numbers really are getting quite confusing.
pam

Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch)
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004
Total posts: 3775
From: Kylnne2
Date: 12-03-2004, 02:18 PM (4 of 9)
I believe that the newer low line of Bernina's are made by Janome as is the new stand alone embroidery machine where it used to be made by Brother. I think even more confusing are the Babylock models..all Babylock models of machines seem to begin with the letter "E".
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004
Total posts: 629
From: Kylnne2
Date: 12-06-2004, 04:15 AM (5 of 9)
The numbering system that I find confusing is the same model numbers among differnet brands. For instance..there is a Bernina 1530 and I have a Pfaff 1530. Go figure...
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004
Total posts: 629
From: lightning57
Date: 12-06-2004, 08:54 AM (6 of 9)
Thank you all for your replys. It would be helpful if the Bernina website had a list of their machines and the numbers that fall under it. Plus, a list of #'s blank through blank and list below the attachment #'s that will fit those machines. I find trying to figure out what attachment will fit my older 830, a headache. Why can't they make the feet to fit every machine they make?
Sandra from SC
User: lightning57
Member since: 09-08-2000
Total posts: 119
From: paroper
Date: 12-06-2004, 09:48 AM (7 of 9)
I think that all the 30's use the same type of foot. The newest feet for the Artista line have a red box above the foot number but the older feet for that line do not. The foot numbers are the same except that some of the feet for the computerized machines have an "eye" and the letter C after the number. The really old feet have a three digit number. I don't have my feet in this part of the house, but one of the lines (30's vs Artista) has a single post sticking up from the foot on top and one has two, one in front and one in back. Check yours. It doesn't help if you are bidding on E-Bay, but it helps if you are just looking at the feet in the store. If you are bidding on E-Bay though, you can often see the colored box on the front of the foot in the pics. There is also some difference in the slant of the foot. When they changed to the computerized machines, they had to adjust the foot angle and that is why they brought out a new line of feet, but that slant is not easy to see when you are looking at the feet.

Well, here are a couple of links to the current machines. (I looked in Generations and although there was information about manuals with machine numbers, I didn't find a machine listing by type.)

http://www.berninausa.com/browse.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025051&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181831&AST_LOCALE=en&AST_NAME=USA&bmUID=1102340118078

http://www.berninausa.com/browse.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025017&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181831&AST_LOCALE=en&AST_NAME=USA&bmUID=1102340157406

Here is a list of current machines:

http://www.berninausa.com/search_presser_feet.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534 374302025023&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181831&AST_LOCALE=en&AST_NAME=USA&bmUID=1102340407390
pam

Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch)
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004
Total posts: 3775
From: grandmasue
Date: 12-07-2004, 09:47 AM (8 of 9)
Somewhere between the Bernina 930 and the 1030 models there was a change to the style of the attachments. The pins that lock the foot to the machine changed in size. None of the feet from my 930 (the pins are too wide) will fit the 1030 but I have used the feet from my 1030 on the 930 and have not noticed any problems. I am sure it is not recomended tho! When ordering feet I was asked if I wanted the "Old Style" or "New Style"
Grandma Sue

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At the end I am not showing up at my grave all pretty and well preserved...I am coming in sliding, yelling "What a ride!"
User: grandmasue
Member since: 10-26-2004
Total posts: 138
From: Kylnne2
Date: 12-08-2004, 04:00 AM (9 of 9)
I noticed when I was looking at the Bernina's in the summer the model 125 had a snap on or glide on foot where the models 135 and i believe it was the 145 had the regular Bernina type foot..these 3 models are all in the same line too.
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004
Total posts: 629
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