ELNA SUPERMATIC SEWING MACHINES

ELNA SUPERMATIC

The Automatic zigzag Sewing Machine BEFORE computers!

The advertisement flyers and magazine ads, as well as the information inserts, & manuals, as well as Elna magazines, are a rich source of information about these INCREDIBLE automatic zigzag sewing machines, one of the earliest freearm machines, and the most versatile, earliest zigzag sewing machine, with the highest number of available stitch cams, make it the historical equivalent, of most high end computerized sewing machines, with 202 stitch cams available!

What is the difference between an "AUTOMATIC" sewing machine, and a semi automatic sewing machine? Most manufacturers described early zigzag sewing machines, which had the capability of sewing various widths of zigzag stitches, as semi automatic, though some claimed their machines were "automatic", when the zigzag stitch width actually had to be manually manipulated, to create curving, decorative stitches. Classes were taught, showing buyers how to make their regular zigzag sewing machine, sew beautiful monograms, flowers, vines, sparkle stitches, etc., but those were NOT truly "AUTOMATIC" zigzag sewing machines, like these INCREDIBLE Elna Supermatic sewing machines! 

Elna made 102 different stitch cams, not counting the buttonhole cam. I came up with this number, counting cams 1-36, plus 101-166 (the newest chart # for cams, that I have.) 

If you have the Star cam models, you can make more stitches than this, combining built in stitches with the cams, as shown in the manual, and on newer stitchcharts.

Elna made their SUPER Automatic sewing machines, take special plastic stitch cams, which can be inserted into the "computer brain", to tell the machine when to sew larger or smaller zigzag stitches, or even straight stitches, in special designs, without the sewer having to do anything more than load the fabric into the machine, and push the knee control, to begin sewing absolutely beautiful stitches! Initially, it was simply zigzag stitches, but quickly, the "stretch" stitch double cams were designed, which allows the Supermatic to sew everything from super stretch stitches, to flowers, stars, fish, birds, geese, dogs, cats, sailboats, & a multitude of stitches, for every possible sewing task!

Elna Supermatic cam stitch samples, mostly double sided reverse stitches on this sampler. Stitch width 4, needle position center, stitch length moved all the way down to A, snapped into the Automatic reverse stitch setting.

My favorite convenient Elna Features-

183+ different stitch cams available 
Multiple needle positions
TWIN NEEDLE accessory, uses regular needles, to sew coverstitch look hems or double embroidery!
Stitch width & length controls allow you ability to adjust stitch designs to fit your creativity
Reverse stitches as short or as long of stitches as you like, locks stitches securely
Sew as fast as 1550 stitches per minute or slow as you like, quiet & smooth if kept clean & oiled properly
Freearm or flatbed
lightweight, yet incredibly strong full size machine!
Portable METAL case screws to attach machine, for safe travel, becomes EXTENSION TABLE if wanted!
Organized accessory case stores under freearm, inside case
Kneebar control - No runaway pedal
Stretch stitches, embroidery stitches, utility stitches
darning plate & embroidery capability
sew buttons & hooks & eyes on by machine!
eyelet plates available in 2 sizes
extra long basting stitch plate available (Turns zigzag stitch into long straight basting stitch)
Straight stitch needle plate available to protect light fabrics like satin & silk
Well designed presser feet available for everything from pintucking, to binding, ruffling, shirring, embroidery, rolled hems in several sizes, flat feld foot, topstitching with guide, & more...
Low shank presser feet widely available to fit machines
Manuals instruct in darning, embroidery, as well as regular sewing, teach very well
Embroidery & fine sewing idea books to show how to use your Elna best
Automatic buttonhole cam available, & special buttonhole gauge foot
Friction pulley instead of belt system, lasts 40 to 60 years before needing replaced
Drop in bobbin easy to change in the middle of project, if needed
BEAUTIFUL HIGH QUALITY STITCHES!
European zig zag machines seem to keep the needles side to side movement better controlled, with less needle strikes on the throat plates than other "swing needle" machines
Incredibly well designed & well built, a machine to last centuries, if well cared for, a real heirloom treasure!
Easy access to clean & oil yourself

ELNA bobbin part #503855  is actually shorter than the class 15 Necchi bobbin on the right, in this Necchi Elna catalog. Notice the Elna bobbin has 7 holes on the top, but is solid on the bottom. It is taller than a Singer class 66 bobbin (one of my Elna Supermatics only had Singer class 66 bobbins with it, and in it, when I bought it), which people often mistakenly use, if they can't find Elna bobbins, but especially if you sew fast, with a class 66 bobbin, in an elna, it will jam, sewing the bobbin to the machine. It is best if you can find original Swiss made Elna bobbins, for your Elna sewing machine.

Elna Feet and accessories usually say SWISS MADE

Elna Sewing Machine Feet say Swiss Made and have specially shaped designs to create special sewing tasks, without problems. Tiny rolled hems, of various sizes, pintucks, flat feld seams, braiding, shirring, embroidery, sewing on soft thin silks, or fine linens, or thick heavy fabrics, there are specialty feet and attachments to perform many tasks, without the problems you otherwise get, from the wrong presser feet.

Elna Sewing machine presser feet say Swiss Made and the bottoms of the presser feet are specially formed, and polished to help perform specific sewing tasks. Having the presser foot bottom, fit your feed dogs EXACTLY, is incredibly important, when sewing delicate, and difficult fabrics, if you use feet which do not perform the specific tasks required, to prevent fabric flagging, which causes skipped stitches, and other problems, you will not get the same quality of stitches, as you would if you use the correct presser feet. 

These presser feet are actually Singer presser feet, with a low shank snap on ankle, which I have tested and discovered these perform very well, on my vintage Elna Supermatic. A metal roller foot is almost essential for sewing stretch fabrics, leather, vinyl, and spongy, difficult fabrics. Some low shank vintage Pfaff presser feet, for special stitches, also work on the Supermatic.

Singer low shank snap on presser foot shown in closer detail, in case you choose to try this for your Elna too.

Elna Monogrammer with the embroidery ring 226

Elna Mongrammer and instruction sheet

Elna Monogrammer in packet, Elna Circular Sewing Device 222

Advertising flyer for Elna Circular Sewing Device 222 and Monogrammer Attachment 226

In my hand, notice the extra "twin needle accessory", which takes 2 regular sewing machine needles, and replaces the single needle holder on the machine. This saved buyers money, and allowed them to sew 2 parallel rows of any stitch they desired, without the expense of special needles.  Many sewing machines can only sew twin needle sewing, with their own expensive proprietary twin needles, so this is a major bonus!

Elna Supermatic (Super Automatic) zigzag sewing machines are a bundle of engineering MAGIC! Easily portable, slender free arm, which made darning of nylons & socks, easier, sewing necklines, armholes, sleeves & cuffs, pant hemming, & children's & baby clothing easier to sew!

Elna Supermatic early version of the "computer brain" cam area. Note this Elna Supermatic version has the plastic nut, which screws down the cam, to hold it in place. later Supermatics had a springloaded release, which caused the cam to pop up, & be easier to remove, without the need for the special Y shaped flat cam wrench.

If you love fast, strong, vintage metal sewing machines, which are often described on EBay, & elsewhere, as "heavy duty", or the infamous "industrial strength" (home sewing machines definitely are NOT an industrial, even though Sewing Machine companies today, advertise their brand new plastic sewing machines as "industrial strength", just remember that even in factories, super strength is not always needed, to sew light weight silk blouses, batiste, gauze, & similar light fabrics, so an industrial machine can be fast, but not terribly strong, so using the term industrial strength doesn't always really mean what it sounds like it should.) 

Elna Supermatics sew up to a speedy 1,550 stitches per minute, & have quite a bit of needle punching power, but they are still only a home sewing machine of "yesteryear". (Otherwise known as domestic sewing machines.) You may want to try the ELNA SUPERMATIC or Transforma or Star freearm sewing machines, which are the most common models of Elna's, but there are flatbed models available as well, but they are not nearly as common as the portable freearm models. 

The early green Elna cast aluminum, portable sewing machines, both the earliest straight stitch only models, & these bright green Supermatic zigzag sewing machines, are affectionately referred to by owners, as the "grasshopper" sewing machine, due to the bright green color, the narrow freearm, & the folding knee bar, which really caught the imagination of their owners, because when that knee bar is folded up, to be put away in it's handy metal case, the machines look like a one legged grasshopper! No more run away pedals! 

NOTE- you will run into purists, who insist that only the earliest green Elna freearm sewing machine, with the folding up kneebar control, which had no official model name, should be called a "grasshopper", however, after extensive research, I discovered that the Elna company never named ANY of their machines a "grasshopper", that it was literally the machine owners, and collectors, over time, who conferred the nickname "grasshopper", on the freearm models, which include both green, and tan models (both natural colors of grasshoppers), with folding kneebars. I was amazed, over the past few decades, to find this nickname has been in general use, throughout the world, not just in one or two countries. Even the Needlebar website, (one of the earliest online collector groups, who compiled, and shared research on home sewing machines, clearly states the term "grasshopper" was an "affectionate nickname", which tends to void claims to the nickname only being limited to the original Elna model. I suspect the reason behind the purists insistence that only that model, be referred to as the grasshopper, may stem from the fact that limiting use of the term, to the model with no model name, or number, does make it easier to identify a machine as being that early, unnamed model. However, attempting to prohibit happy machine owners, from using the commonly used nickname, that grandparents, and parents, identified their machine as being, for lifetimes, due to the characteristics it has, which make it look like those particular insects, is not supported as an official identifier, in any official Elna documentation. To each, their own, as far as nicknames go. If anyone finds original Elna documents, which specify the first Elna as "the grasshopper", I would be more than happy to add that documentation, but I see no reason for people to limit their nickname usage, for their grasshopper look-a-like machine, based on my research.

Don't be misled, there is a pretty big difference between most industrial sewing machines, versus most home sewing machines, but the majority of the metal sewing machines that were manufactured prior to 1980, are quite heavy duty, compared to the new machines made today. Most industrial machines will have a separate clutch motor, that is approximately the size of a gallon of milk, but it's strength is measured in horsepower, not just volts or amps. Most home machines have a motor built into, or onto the machine itself, the size of a 14 oz. can of soup, or smaller. There are newer industrial sewing machine models, with much smaller, adjustable speed motors, so you will see a variety of sizes of machines, and motors, among industrials, but in general, industrials are made to sew much higher speeds, literally around the clock, where home sewing machines are expected to see sporadic, lighter work use.

With speeds of up to 1,550 stitches per minute, this little speed demon can also be slowed down to make one careful, slow stitch at a time, if that is your preference, particularly when darning or sewing freestyle embroidery. Elna's Supermatic, Transforma, Star, & other automatic machines give you full control over your sewing, & because Elna made their variety of 100+ stitch design cams fit all of their automatic machines, they offered more stitch designs than any other home sewing machines, long before home computerized sewing machines were even thought to be possible!

Notice the notched area in the lid to the accessory case, it is where the enameled metal oil can is stored. The lid to the narrow storage section of the accessory case, has been slid open, to reveal the narrow tub that holds feet and feed dog covers for darning & button sewing, it may fit bobbins in it, but I haven't tried that, so can't guarantee it. I like to put the small presser feet in it.

PLUG the cord INTO the base of the Supermatic

to protect the plug from getting caught in the case

Elna Supermatics came with their own accessory trays, with room for 5 cams, and a tub like area for presser feet storage, as well as a narrow storage tub hidden under the sliding lid, with 5 metal spool pins. A special wrench for lifting the cam out of the "computer brain", in the early Supermatics, that had the plastic screw down nut, in the "computer brain",  the flat wrench fits neatly on top of the cams, when the lid of the accessory case is put back on.  The number of presser feet varies, and a beautiful enameled oil can was fitted into a special part of these early accessory cases. The oil can itself, is an engineering marvel, with the tiniest of screw on lids, both on the top of the can, but also at the end of the slender oil spout, which is perfectly sized, for reaching the necessary locations to oil, in your Elna Supermatic sewing machine! (One type of oil or kerosene can has a plastic body, others have all metal, you can use a magnet to test if yours is metal or plastic, the plastic ones will eventually break. These little cans have become very valuable, to collectors.)

Elna's portable Supermatics came in a variety of fabulous metal carry cases, designed to hold the machine, cord, knee control, accessory case & cams & feet, all in a super convenient, protective, lightweight metal case, reminiscent of military ammunition cases!

The FRICTION PULLEY is hidden inside, behind the handwheel, and is what mechanically transfers the power from the motor, to the sewing machine mechanism, via the handwheel. The pulley rides on the inside of the thick aluminum handwheel, and if the machine is left to sit, for decades, without being used, the pulley can become flat on one side, causing the machine to sound very loud, and sometimes, keeping the pulley from getting enough contact, to run the machine. While the flat spot can sometimes be sanded out, a new pulley may be necessary, to get your Elna Supermatic back to it's top speed of 1,550 stitches per minute! (You can sew slower, too, of course, depending on how far you move the knee bar, or pedal, if you have a pedal wired to your Elna, instead of the hand knee bar. I prefer the knee bar control, it doesn't run away!) 

Another view inside the Elna Supermatic, with the handwheel removed. The friction pulley is in the center bottom of the open area.

Roll pin size 5/64 x 1/2" to replace pulley
TEKTON 5/64 roll pin punch helps avoid damaging
 the roll pin during replacement
Harbor Freight sells roll pin assortment kit if you can't find the right size roll pin by itself.

A view inside both the "brain" and the free arm area, of the early Elna Supermatic. Note that while these are often called "all metal" machines, there are some gears which are a type of plastic, nylon, or similar material, coupled with the metal gear drive. These gears can be damaged, by sewing too heavy of fabrics, or forcing the machine, just like any other mechanical objects. Note the cleated textile timing belt beside the cam"brain", as well. These help make the machine smooth, strong, but lightweight. The majority of the machine is cast aluminum, to allow both strength, but also lighter weight portability.

Elna Supermatic Sewing Machines

Elna Supermatic with spring releasing cam mechanism

Elna Supermatic two tone green has the push down, spring release, for removing cams, so the cam wrench is not necessary. Stitch samples shown with blind hem and basting accessory test stitches

Elna Supermatic stitch samples from cams, stitch width 4, needle centered, stitch length snapped into setting A, automatic

ELNA HISTORY NEEDLEBAR

ELNA BASTING PLATE and TOPSTITCH ACCESSORY

Elna Supermatic Basting Stitch Plate, cam 150, settings for 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm (1 1/4") black thread on top, white thread on bottom, but it's hard to see the basting stitches, but they are PERFECT for fitting, or temporary stitches, easy to remove, when you don't need them anymore. Notice the skinny metal straw, or pipe on the underside of needleplate.

Elna Guide to Creative Sewing was a way for customers to see which all stitch cams were available, & to teach them some design ideas, to help them use those designs, in their home sewing.

The photos of stitch samples, really helped customers to have an idea what their finished stitch designs would look, so they could plan decorative design series, to show what they should look like, if the machine was properly adjusted.

This vintage flyer shows up close detail of some of the Supermatic's special features & stitch cams

Freearm sewing machines make it so much easier to sew around narrow cuffs, pant leg hems, necklines, armholes, & other sewing work that is small & circular, in particular, for darning nylons & socks, just by slipping them over the arm! I read that the man who designed the freearm, actually measured the ankles of women at train stations all over the country, to make sure they designed the freearm small enough, ladies could slip their dainty socks over it!

This doesn't mean you are stuck using a narrow freearm all of the time you are sewing, because the Tavaro Swiss company had the genius idea of making their machines not only freearms, but PORTABLE! These early Elna Supermatic sewing machines came with a light but sturdy metal case, which the machine can actually be screwed down to, securely, for safe travel, but the case itself unfolds, then slips around the freearm, creating a large, flat sewing surface, perfect for sewing quilts & other large projects, with perfect control & support!

Elna included an ingenious accessory & feet organizer, or toolbox (several designs over the years), which slip under the freearm for storage, but holds your bobbins, spools of thread, several presser feet, needles, as well as several stitch cams!

Elna really offered great value to their customers, because while other manufacturers purposely limited the number of stitch designs their sewing machines could sew, so buyers had to purchase a new machine if they wanted the newest stitch designs, but Elna created over 100 different stitch designs, which can be used in any of the Elna sewing machines that use cams, so you only had to purchase the cams you wanted, & knew you would use!

ELNA CAM STORAGE CASES

Elna Wooden Cam Case closed

Elna Wooden Cam Case Open

Elna Cam Stitch Patterns flyer and ad for plastic cam cases

Elna Wooden Cam Case

Elna plastic cam storage containers ad

Elna cam case clear plastic for 12 cams

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Sampler

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Samplera

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Sampler

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Sampler

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Samplerb

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Samplerc

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Samplerd

Elna Dealership & Sewing Class Stitch Samplere

Necchi & Elna were sold by the same dealers, which is why you will find most catalogs for Necchi & Elna sewing machine accessories & parts, are jointly printed, like my Necchi Elna catalog

Mono Graph & Monogrammer for Elnas are also available. You place the photo or monogram you want to copy in the right circle, & stitch in the left one. As you follow the lines, your machine stitches a copy. Not quite as easy as computers, though...

ELNA FRICTION PULLEYS

Notice the little wad of black stuff, almost in the center of this photo? This was the rubber on the outside of the friction pulley, that drives the machine, instead of the usual rubber belt. The seller said the machine worked great, but had a vibration, & the needle doesn't always move when you push the controller, until they turned the hand wheel manually. As soon as I tried the machine the first time, the rubber peeled itself off, & fell down inside the machine, eventually winding up here, so I could clean it out, before it caused any other trouble! Yes, there are some nylon or other plastic type gears in these machines, just like the Bernina's, which are also Swiss Made. While they can fail, they usually allow quieter, smoother running, even at high speeds.

If your Elna develops a vibration, either the friction pulley has gotten flattened on one side (like this photo), due to long term storage without use, or the rubber that provides the friction to turn the drive shaft, has worn down, so the needle won't always engage unless you turn the hand wheel. Just buy a new friction pulley & replace it yourself, I like that White Sewing Center (online) rents out a cool tool the owner invented, with instructions to help anyone replace it themselves, without knocking the motor out of balance, when removing the pin that holds it in place. The tool is a modified C clamp, which can be tightened, to drive the pin out gently. Alternatively, find an experienced Elna technician, to replace it.

Beware of techs who claim it isn't fixable, & volunteer to throw it out for you. Take it back & part it out yourself, if you really can't afford to get it repaired. There are a lot of free online groups who help each other learn to repair & maintain & use these vintage treasures, & some techs just want to part it out or sell it online. Obviously repair techs aren't all crooks, but too many are, & Ebay has made this kind of pirating, profitable.

To see if a machine has a worn out friction pulley before you buy it, you can ask the seller to remove the hand wheel & take a photo looking into the opening. The rubber on the pulley has to be thick enough, to rub against the inside of the hand wheel, to turn the drive shaft. Either a flat spot, or a worn pulley, should be fairly obvious. If you aren't sure what the pulley should look like, do an online search for an Elna Supermatic friction pulley, & compare it to the one in the machine.

May you get lucky & find one of these treasures yourself. Yes, even if they need their pulley replaced, I do think the Elna Supermatic & other automatic cam stitch Elnas are worth the trouble to fix! Happy Sewing!

Here are some links to places to buy replacement friction Pulleys

Dave Mannock, a member of a Facebook sewing machine group, sells these here-

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Bits-Bobs-New-Necchi-Other-VSM-parts-448105408896021/photos/?tab=album&album_id=514631165576778

REMEMBER- Be aware, this is NOT an industrial sewing machine, even though some people do sell them, claiming they are industrial sewing machines. Compared to today's plastic sewing machines, these metal machines are heavy duty, and the term "industrial strength" is literally an opinion, or someone's advertising description, it means they think it seems as strong as an industrial machine, it does not mean that it really is an industrial sewing machine.

ELNA HISTORY & other great Elna related sites that I enjoy-
http://needlebar.org/main/elna/

http://www.mckennalinn.com/elna-grasshopper-bobbin.html

Elna Automatic only took the flat, single layer cams, but was still a fully automatic zigzag sewing machine. All of the other Elna cam taking sewing machines can use both the single layer cams, and the double layer cams

Elna Owner's Workbook stitch samples