Bernina 730 Record

Yesterday we went to one of our favorite thrift stores. Lately, their sewing machines have been higher priced, compared to what they used to be, but I thought I would look anyway. My blood pressure rose dramatically when I saw this!

I knew, I just knew (I just HOPED) it was a sewing machine, but at this point, I didn’t know what kind. I think my heart started pounding faster and I might have started hyperventilating when I saw this!

Oh my GOODNESS, Oh my GOODNESS! A BERNINA!!!!! It did NOT have a price tag on it, but I promptly put it in my cart anyway! Upon further inspection, I saw that it was a Bernina 730 Record!!
Louie wondered what I was getting so excited about, and I told him how I had read how popular these machines were. I never thought I would get my hands on a Bernina! These photos were after the sale and cleanup and overhaul, of course, because I did not have my camera with me, and I was in too much of a hurry to get out of the store with my treasure. I asked him to pretty please get someone to PRICE this for me while I guarded the cart, so we could escape before anyone tried to tackle me.

Sometimes, depending on what store we are in, and who is working, if the item is not priced, they will tell you they need to have it taken back to the workroom and put through the process again, so ‘I can’t sell this to you. Come back another day’. Oh, I was praying it wasn’t so. Thank Goodness GOODWILL is easier to get along with, and the lady we asked, marked it for us.  I could hardly contain myself!

It didn’t come without a few problems though. It was built in 1964, so it was ‘gummed up’ in a few places and things did not want to work as they should. Well, it is 48 years old, I guess. It also did not have a manual, but I found a free one online, printed it, and it was a huge help in getting the ‘kinks’ out as it explained what knobs and levers did what. So with a little heat and persuasion, my new best friend Mr. Blow Dryer helped me get things moving again too.

Bernina didn’t come with many accessories. There were lots of needles, but only the all purpose foot on the machine, and a zipper foot. I don’t really require a lot of feet, but a nice 1/4” foot would be nice and maybe a stippling foot. IRONICALLY, the very first store we stopped at, I picked up this Buttonholer for a friend of mine, and guess what was in the box? A BERNINA presser foot converter adapter! Who knew? Kind of spooky….

It works perfectly! Can you see it with my open toe low shank foot attached to it next to the bobbin on the far left? I went downstairs to my ‘spares’ box and pulled out these extra accessories to fill my Bernina drawers



Does anyone recognize this fabric? It is from the Kansas City Troubles line. There are two yards here. Total for two yards? 65 Cents! I love it!

I found another Kenmore yesterday for the SMP, and one that isn’t in good shape, but time will tell if I can fix it. The Bernina, however is mine. I’m going to keep it.
Hope your Sunday is wonderful. Louie is recuperating from a week long bout of upset, sour stomach. He missed one day of work already, because of it. He hasn’t kicked it yet. Hopefully taking it easier today will help. I always worry about him when he gets sick, because it isn’t often, thank the Lord!