Electronic SU with external cams
circa 1981
This machine came to me in August 2023 and I must confess it is now August 2025 and I am finally getting around to looking at it. From what I can tell it is circa 1981 as it has a serial number beginning with Y. I have tested the machine and it is stitching but a little rough. It is a much later machine than I normally collect but I have collected a few more “modern” machines that where released in the late 60s to the early 80s, such as my Husqvarna 2000 and my Bernina 730. All these later machines have plastic gears or parts that are prone to deterioration and will require repair or replacement of components over time. The one thing in common that they do have is that they are all made by leading sewing machine manufacturers of their time and this Elna is no different.
This machine reminded me so much of my beloved Elna Sapphire machine, that I have used since I was a teenager, that I just had to check out this larger Electronic SU to see what it was like. In appearance they are very similar vibe, blue, green, orange dials and style when you look at them. However the Sapphire is later and more portable, this Electronic SU is larger and has more features, such as the cams that came with it. These same cams are the ones that can be used with the earlier Elna Supermatic machines.
According to Ismacs the machine stitches features are:
7 built-in practical stitches
18 Elna-discs (15 double discs – superautomatic)
(3 single discs – automatic)
Further sewing possibilities: additional Elna-discs
The machine still needs a good clean externally as it is rather grotty still, but before I put too much effort into it, it will go to my Sewing Machine guru tech here in Melbourne. I’ll see if Mike can service it or even tell me if it’s worth servicing, before I put too much effort into cleaning it externally. Mike has a Facebook page now as well as a web page, so check him out. Mike Williams – Mike and the mechanicals
The sewing machine manual for this Elna electronic SU with external removeable machine can be found for free download from my google drive here. This is a blue manual.,
The Elna electronic SU also came with cams inbuilt and you can find its user manual for download from my google drive from here, this is the white manual.
One of my favourite Youtube channels is “In stitches”. You can see a wonderful demo of the TSP version of this machine here.
12 Dec 1979 – Advertising – Trove (nla.gov.au)
Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 – 1982), Wednesday 12 December 1979, page 160
