Not to deviate too much from the slight Automotive bias here, I'll start this post with a soothing picture of the rear end of the Blaze MG. But what is that old suitcase in the back?
Gritzner had quite a number of ownership changes over the years, with it's final owners being Pfaff. Even if I could make out the serial number (I've had a good guess at it, but it's really hard to read, and you can't make out anything in the photo), I have't been able to find any info regarding Gritzner serial numbers. We are offering for sale a few special antique Sewing Machines from our own collection. These were originally purchased by us because we felt they represented particularly good examples of their type. To check availability and delivery costs, please contact us quoting the appropriate Stock Codes and your location. Refurb Projects.
Aug 6, 2020 - Max Gritzner Sewing Machines. Durlach in Baden was an impressive site to behold. It even had its. The early Gritzner machines are very collectible. Home of the Sewalot Site Home of the Sewalot site For antique and vintage sewing machines Max Gritzner. I sell sewing machine Gritzner DURLACH serial nomber 289023,price 5000 euro.if anyone want to know more about machine,please call me on my tel number or e-mail address ivanarny@yahoo.com on May 30, 2012 at 8:47 pm Reply Delio. Gritzner Durlach Vintage/ Antique Sewing machine, Produced in Germany at Karlsruhe factory, Durlach in Baden Serial number: 1704238 It could be used as it was intended for sewing or upcycled as a small office ornament perhaps for antique/vintage /old sewing machine home decor, collectors.
If you look underneath you see lots of heavy rods, levers and a few interesting looking wheels and even though it all looks big and heavy, it's also very finely engineered and the machining is beautiful.And all that power comes with a proper accelerator paddle. 'Fly by wire'.
This metal door shows the fine mechanism and the lamp. This machine does not look old or worn out. It looks brand new, and it works beautifully too.
Here's another old box. Not very heavy, but strong enough to make you wonder what's inside.
The lid hinges upwards and shows us the contents: an Elna 'Grasshopper'. Built in Switzerland and designed by a Spanish genius. Do you see that thing looking like a bent coat-hanger? It folds out to form a knee operated control lever. Simple and clever, just like the rest of the machine.
The body is all Aluminium. Straight lines and round edges. This is the rear. There is even a little box for feet and bobbins. Previous owner told me his mother had bought it new in 1942 and used it a lot. The paint has worn off the top of the arm. But the rest looks undamaged and the machine worked beautifully without any nasty noises or rattles. for a while that is...
After a little while sparks and acrid smoke filled the room. The wire on the connector to the transformer made a nasty short, so the wire and the transformer burnt out.
As the machine was originally built for 125 volt mains and we have 230 volts here, it came with a transformer. The transformer was in homemade wooden box. I'll replace it with a more modern transformer.
Meanwhile cleaning the internals made the machine turn much easier. Mechanically it looks just as strong as the Gritzner, but as the body is Aluminium and with fewer options it is much lighter.
Even the box is clever as it folds out to form a platform, so the free arm is incorporated into a flat working surface. There is also the original manual. US version, so this is probably the US market machine.Gritzner Sewing Machine Serial Numbers
The internet is crammed with information, so I was not surprised to find a website with a reference to serial number and build year. The interesting thing is that the serial number seems to refer to 1946, not 1942. They say 60.000 of these machines were built, so if Austin built 290.000 Sevens, the Elna must be rarer than an Austin Seven.