NECCHI LELIA MY LOVE PART TWO

You know by now I adore my "new to me" Necchi Lelia 515 sewing machine.  Therefore, I decided it needed all the jewelry and accessories that it had when it was a new machine. 

Joyfully, I discovered by looking on the Yahoo Necchi site that the proper cams for the Lelia were the same cams that the Necchi Nora used and memorized their outward appearance, then I immersed myself into the search.

First, I found the decorative stitch cams on Ebay.  Here is the ad:

"These cams are for an older Necchi sewing machine. There are 11 cams inside the cardboard tube. They are marked made in Italy. Part #'s are 9661400, 9661410, 9661430, 9661440, 9661980, 9661990, 9662020, 9662060, 9662070, 9662080, and 9662100. I know that they fit in the Necchi Nora because these part #'s are listed in the instruction manual."

 

 

On the Yahoo Necchi site I found out that the chrome rimmed hole to the right of the Necchi name on the front of the machine was actually the mechanism [when fitted with the proper dial and foot] to create buttonholes.

Then, I found this ad on Ebay, and decided I had to have it.  Right before my eyes are the needed feet, buttonhole dial, and buttonhole foot.

"This is a nice Necchi sewing machine parts set. I am not sure if the set is complete, but the case and all of the parts seem to be in great shape. Please see pictures.  A SET OF 9 FEET, BUTTONHOLER KNOB."

 

 

This auction features a removable dial key for the unique 5 step buttonhole.  The dial is removed or installed from the 0 position and the buttonhole is made via a unique 5 step process.  I have found a photo of a copy of a page from a manual showing the procedure for inserting the key dial and then forming the buttonholes and then removing the dial for normal sewing.

 

 

 

The white nylon lever below the slide plate controls the feed throw out.  Push down the lever to drop the feed dogs and raise the lever to place the feed dogs in the normal position.

 

 

 

Numbered presser foot tension indicator, Turning the chrome pressure adjusting knob moves the indicator on the face plate.

 

 

 

My Necchi Lelia 515 will now be my dedicated buttonhole machine, and I will install it in the "new" sewing machine cabinet!  I went to my friendly neighborhood thrift shop yesterday. They gave me free a Sears Kenmore sewing machine cabinet -- 1970's era!  It is not the most beautiful piece of furniture I ever saw, but it isn't the ugliest either.