Elna Sewing Machine Company: A Legacy of Quality and Innovation

Discover the Legacy: Elna Sewing Machine Company

Apr 16 2025

Discover the Legacy: Elna Sewing Machine Company

Are Elna And Janome The Same Company?

Janome owns Elna, which is why Elna sewing machines are manufactured in Janome factories around Asia. After all, Elna’s popularity declined due to the cheaper imports from East Asia than those made in Europe.

Elna was deregistered in 1995, and by 2006, Janome acquired shares in Elna, absorbing it. However, this doesn’t take away from Elna’s well-established company with the best customer service.

Who Makes Elna Sewing Machines: Are They Good?

We found out who makes Elna sewing machines and revealed that they are a company. We’ll talk about this Swiss brand in more detail below to know if the machines are reliable.

You will also know if Janome owns Elna and what makes this brand among the most innovative ones in the past. Furthermore, why not read about its usage as well?

We wrote how to set up this brand, so feel free to read how to thread an Elna sewing machine . After all, proper use is crucial for any machine to live up to its promises.

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Where Can You Buy an Elna Sewing Machine?

You can often find vintage Elna sewing machines for sale through online sellers such as eBay, Etsy and Goodwill. Thrift stores and yard sales in the United States may occasionally sport a vintage Elna. But this probably won’t happen super frequently because Elna had its roots in Switzerland.

On top of that, most Elna models had a more limited production than a brand like Singer.

That said, keep an eye on estate sales and auctions because you never know! Sometimes vintage 1950s or 1960s models bought back in the day pop up in mint condition. Often only one person owned the machine for the past half a century.

You can generally expect to find at least a handful of vintage Elna models on eBay or Amazon, though. This often includes the Supermatic and sometimes the Lotus, if you’re lucky!

Try to find products that give detailed descriptions about the model number and the condition of the machine. Sometimes you can even find sellers who post video clips demonstrating how well the machine operates!

If you do take the plunge and decide to purchase a vintage sewing machine, make sure you give it proper care right away. You should probably take it to a certified repair technician for a once-over before you mess around with it.

Alternatively, you can clean and overhaul the machine yourself. If you like mechanical things, you may enjoy this process! You can find instructions in the sewing machine manual or look up a Youtube video for more help.

No matter how shiny and nice the lovely vintage machine may look on the outside, you need to check for lint buildup, rust, faulty wires, or any parts that need oiling before trying to use it.

What’s the Best Elna Sewing Machine?

The most famous vintage Elna sewing machine is the iconic Lotus model with its gracefully unfolding outer case. You can see one at the New York Museum of Modern Art because this machine marries artistry with functionality so beautifully! You can’t go wrong with the simple, beautiful precision of this compact vintage sewing machine, either.

Modern Elna machines get rave reviews today as well, of course. But in terms of vintage Elna machines, you have to know what sewing machine functions you want to pick a favorite.

The Supermatic was the first fully automatic domestic sewing machine. It did things no sewing machine had ever done! Constant innovation is what sets the Elna models apart from many other sewing machines made during the mid 20th century.

If you want to go old-school, the Grasshopper has simpler features but a remarkable solidity. And, of course, it has that cute green metal body!

You can count on the precise internal workings of any vintage Elna model due to its careful Swiss design. The solid metal construction of vintage machines made before the 1970s will last forever, too.