Elna (Swiss company)
Parent Janome | | |
Website | www |
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Elna is a
History
The firm began as Ateliers Mécaniques de Précision Tavaro SA, founded as an export division of the
When the Swiss federal government restricted, then banned, exports of war materiel, Tavaro shifted to peaceful industry. At first, the factory exported watch parts & movements to the United Kingdom, in violation of wartime trade restrictions, for which the firm was recognized by the British government.[13]
The "Grasshopper"
Tavaro's first sewing machine had no official name, just a model number (500890); but it was consistently referred to in sales literature simply as Elna (without a definite article).[14]
Elna was a radical departure from its competitors, and its success permanently changed the home sewing machine market, introducing features now considered standard. Its most significant innovation is its free arm, a feature previously found only on industrial sewing machines. A free arm houses the machine's
Casas also recognized that "when a woman finishes sewing she wants to get the machine out of the way,"[4] so Elna was designed to be portable and easily stored. It weighed less than 7 kg thanks largely to a body made from molded aluminium instead of heavy cast iron. Though sewing machines had been traditionally japanned in black with gold decals, Elna was finished in a distinctive matte green, giving rise to the machine's popular nickname, the Grasshopper. Its carrying case even doubles as an extension table, another widely imitated feature that would eventually become an Elna trademark.
Elna sold for
Elna Supermatic
Dr. Casas's improved Elna, named the Supermatic, was the world's first home sewing machine with automated reverse feed.
Later models
- SP (Special Edition)[14]
- TSP (Top Special Edition)[14]
- Lotus - Portable model[14]
- Stella - Electronic portable model
- Air Electronic - another revolution in the industry, instead of a standard pedal, its control was a cushion powered by air from an internal compressor, which was silent and never overheated
- Carina - introduced a button-operated bobbin threader and an accessories' case that slid under the free arm.
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An Elna Junior toy sewing machine
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An Elna Lotus TSP
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A flatbed Elna SU
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An Elna serial number plate
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An Elna shop in Nice
Decline and modern history
Elna's competitiveness declined sharply as imports from East Asia sharply undercut European manufacturers in price. The company was deregistered in 1995 and later absorbed by Janome.[3]
See also
Notes
- ^ According to Spanish naming customs, the first or paternal family name is Casas and the second or maternal family name is Robert.
- ^ Equivalent to more than $1,900 in 2019 when adjusted for inflation via CPI.
References
- ^ a b "Internet-Auszug: Elna International Corp. SA". Registre du Commerce du Canton de Genève. Registre du Commerce du Canton de Genève. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ "Swiss Technics. Swiss Office for the Development of Trade. 1962. p. 50. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7611-3881-5. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. March 1950. p. 40. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ tide, the newsmagazine of advertising, marketing and public relations. 1948. p. 78. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-8019-7872-2. Retrieved November 14, 2017. 237 pages.
- ^ a b "Nähmaschine, Elna, 1940". Museum für Gestaltung Zürich eGuide. Zürich University of the Arts. 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ "Elna Lotus sewing machine, 1965". Museum of Modern Art online collection. Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ a b ""Transforma" Sewing Machine". Philadelphia Museum of Art permanent collection. Philadelphia Museum of Art. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- Tekniska museet permanent collection. Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ Bénédict Frommel (8 August 2011). "Tavaro". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz HLS. Swiss Academy of Humanities & Social Sciences.
- ISBN 978-3-0340-0611-8.
- ISBN 2-8290-0245-8.
- ^ Smithsonian Institution Libraries. 2001. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ a b c Godfrey, Les (2008). "History of Elna Sewing Machines". Needlebar.org. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. November 1968. p. 38. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ Business Week. McGraw-Hill. 1949. p. 38. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ "Die hergestellten Varianten der Elna No. 1". graedel.de. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. October 1978. p. 148. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
Further reading
- Dodson, J.; Ahles, C.; Stocker, J. (1989). Know Your Elna. Creative machine arts series. Chilton Trade Bk. Pub. ISBN 978-0-8019-7872-2. Retrieved November 14, 2017. 237 pages.