Necchi Lelia 513

another Necchi! This one comes from Tammy, who also reviewed her lovely Bernard Stoewer treadle machine for Zigzaggers in November 2009 (here); check out her sewing/quilting/machine-collecting blog, Tammy's Craft Emporium for more pictures of the Necchi Lelia and the rest of her collection

Love it, hate it, or something in between? I absolutely love, love this machine.

When did you buy this sewing machine? November 2009

When was it manufactured? My Lelia was manufactured in Pavlo, Italy, between 1963 and 1971.

Where did you buy it? In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. A lady posted it for sale at Kijiji in Winnipeg.

How much did you pay for it? I paid $50 Canadian. I had to replace the bobbin tire ($2.75), which was rotten. When Lelia arrived at my house she was so starved for oil that the felt pads were bone dry and the needle bar and feed dogs were solidly frozen up. The machine would not zigzag or change needle positions. The feed dog switch moved freely back and forth but the feed dogs remained up. Many thanks to Ed Lamoureaux, who is a Necchi expert -- he advised me to use a screwdriver, hair dryer, and sewing machine oil to fix the problems (see how at Ed's blog). 

How many projects have you done on this machine? About half a dozen. I made a polyester/nylon laptop case using ½-inch foam covered in polyester with velcro closures. Lelia sewed through one inch of foam with four layers of polyester like butter! I tested free motion quilting on a sample and sewed some tea towels. Lelia purrs like a kitten and she sews like a Ferrari. It is so smooth, and her stitches are precise and perfect.

Describe the kind of work you've done with it. I haven’t used Lelia as much as I would like because I have so many other machines. I plan to use her for sewing heavy fabrics like denim and leather. I will most likely use her for piecing quilts while watching television because she is so quiet.

What do you like and what do you hate about it? There is nothing I hate about Lelia. In fact, she sews perfect stitches on cotton, polyester, nylon, denim, and leather. I love everything about her, especially the way she looks. Lelia came complete with her manual and all her accessories. I think the cabinet is a homemade job as it is solid wood. The cabinet is well designed with  four good-sized drawers on the right hand side. Lelia uses standard bobbins, high-shank feet, and standard needles. The machine is very heavy. At Christmas-time, when  I was sewing with Lelia in the TV room downstairs, which is about ten feet from my grown up daughter’s bedroom, she and her fiancé were sleeping. Neither one of them heard my sewing machine. I love it tons! Lelia is a most excellent toy! 

Comments

[Betty]

I'm so glad to read a good review of the Lelia. I just bought a Lelia 510 (straight stitch model). I haven't had time to clean or oil it yet, so I haven't used it on any projects; but I'm already impressed with the stitch quality and the quietness.

[Tammy Dorn]

Hi I scanned and uploaded the manual for this sewing machine. To access it please go to my blog here: http://tammyscraftemporium.blogspot.com/2010/09/necchi-lelia-513-instruction-manual.html

[Marilyn de la Fontaine]

Thank you so much for posting the manual for the necchi-lelia. I have already put it to good use changing a burned out light bulb. I am sure I will need it more this winter as I get more into sewing.

[Tammy Dorn]

I posted this email and my reply on my blog as well.

Hi,
My name is Patricia and I'm in the East Bay of CA. I found you via the
blog Zigzaggers, which came up in my search to find info on fixing my
Lelia's feed dog issue. I am hoping to pick you brain a bit further.
I do belong to the Necchi user group and have posted this question
there, but no joy! Here is what I wrote/how I can best explain it:
I've been a very happy owner of a Lelia 513 for about a year now. I
bought her in superb condition, with alot of great feet and right away
bought Triflow oil and made sure I kept the machine properly oiled.
I love the stitches and the heavy duty aspect of this machine, it has
taken me a year to truly get to know it. I clean, oil and trouble
shoot using the user's manual and the service manual.
However a few months ago I did start to have some problems with my
feed dog. It seemed to drop and I couldn't get it back up. I did tons
of research and found info about cleaning, oiling and 'unfreezing' the
feed dog mechanism.
I did the whole alcohol clean up, put in tons of oil and then use a
hair dryer. But the lever just goes up/down seemingly not attached to
anything.
I have a feeling I'm not aiming the hairdryer in the proper place.
Where exactly do I aim the heat from the hairdryer? Is there anything
else I can possibly try to get my feed dog to drop up and down?
Tammy, if you have any insight or advice you can give I would be
eternally grateful!
Best, Patricia

Hi Patricia,
Before you try anything more..did your feed dogs ever drop? If you have visited my blog you know I collect vintage machines. Right now my Lelia is set up for free motion quilting with the feed dogs down. Here is how it works on the Necchi 513. When the plastic lever is pushed down the feed dogs are disengaged. This is not automatic I have to turn the hand wheel towards me. The same is true to raise the feed dogs, I flip the plastic lever up and rotate the hand wheel then the feed dogs re-engage. This is different than my other vintage machines where button or lever raises and lowers the feed dogs automatically. Would you please try this and let me know if your issue is resolved?

Happy Sewing.

[Dawn Mason]

Hi I too am a devoted owner of a Necchi Lelia 513.I now own my mother's, which is almost as old as I am.However the bobbin winder tyre has now disintegrated and I cannot find another that actually works in my machine.Could anyone tell me where I can find genuine Necchi bobbin winder tyres please?
I could afford to buy a new machine but I love my old one and frankly the newer machines are just not up to scratch as they are too complicated and plastic!

[Tammy Dorn]

I bought my bobbin winder tire from a local Singer sewing machine dealer who has access to all kinds of parts. I brought the worn out one with me and he matched the size. If you can't find replacement parts, by a little bobbin winder device called a sidewinder. It winds most vintage bobbins perfectly.

[Brother Sewing Machine]

There is nothing I hate nigh Lelia. I bang everything virtually her, especially the way she looks. Lelia came terminated with her practice and all her accessories.