Happy 75th Anniversary, BERNINA!

November 21, 2007

Last Wednesday night I went to a party at my local BERNINA store, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the BERNINA sewing machine. Model 105, the first BERNINA-branded sewing machine, was introduced in 1932. BERNINA stores all over the world are celebrating with special events and sales; join the festivities at www.berninausa.com and check with your local BERNINA store to find out what's happening in your town. BERNINA 105

I've always been fascinated by machines - how they work, how the pieces fit together, who invented them, how they developed from early prototypes to the machines we use today. It seems like sewing machines have been around forever, but until about 150 years ago all sewing was done by hand. Imagine stitching all of your clothes with just a needle and a thimble! That would take care of my storage shortage - my entire wardrobe would fit in one suitcase! Trace the history of sewing machines and BERNINA innovations at BERNINA International, then explore BERNINA history at www.berninausa.com. Even the production of BERNINA sewing machines has changed dramatically in the last 75 years - the process now includes computers and robotics - but people are still an essential part of the process.

Also in 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt elected President of USA; Lindburgh baby kidnapped; "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" popular song; Tarzan the Ape Man, starring Johnny Weissmuller; Amelia Earhart's trans-Atlantic solo flight; Jack Benny's first radio show; Al Capone sent to prison for tax evasion; Los Angeles hosts 10th Summer Olympics.

Posted by: Jo Leichte at 7:05pm
5 Comments

Topic: Life in Bernina Land
Tags: bernina , jo leichte , 75 , anniversary

5 Comments

John November 28 2007 @ 10:29 am

If you are fascinated by classic BERNINA machines BERNINA's, visit our web site at www.sandissewingconnection.com. We have BERNINA machines from the 1930's to 1999 on display in our store and they all work perfectly. We do not have a 105 and would really like to get one for our collection; however, they are very rare and hard to find. Thanks for the blog.

Jo November 29 2007 @ 7:35 pm

Hi John - Yours is one of the websites I visit when I want to check out old machines. The first machine I ever sold was an 1130S like the one at your store!

John December 03 2007 @ 4:29 pm

Thanks for the comment, Jo. I am surprised at the number of comments I have gotten from people who have seen our web site and want to know more about an older Bernina machine. A woman from Australia sent e-mails with questions about the 117. And, several want to know if the machines are for sale. The answer to that is NO. Keep up the good work on the blog.

Marie May 31 2008 @ 5:21 am

Hi,I am from South Africa and busy scrapping a project about 1955 my birth year.I would like to have a picture of a 1955 Bernina model. My mother had a Bernina model (530-2 or 532-2) which she bought in 1957(it's in my possession now) and I have a Bernina Minimatic which I bought in 1979 as well as a Bernina overlocker. Suppose you can see why I so desperately want to add a picture of the 1955 Bernina to my project!Hope you can help!

Jo May 31 2008 @ 3:19 pm

According to my reseach, the Bernina 530 was produced from 1954 to 1963, so your mother's machine would be the same model that was available in 1955. Sewing machine models don't change nearly as often as cars! Jo