France in Focus

I am thinking of buying a new sewing machine. I currently use a cheapo Singer bought in 2008 for my mum when her old decent one died after helping me sew umpteen cotton bags for a car rally. Plus her lovely solid hand Singer she bought in 1939 , great for simple straight stitching on heavy fabrics.
I only need straight, zigzag and blind hemming, no embroidery etc. but I do need something that will do for light cotton up to heavy canvas.
Any suggestions of models to buy/avoid welcome, new or s/h.

I'm afraid I'm not up to date with today's machines. I have a Pfaff which i've had for years, and it's still going strong. I had it serviced locally and they said that machines today are not as well-made as they were : plastic parts instead of metal. But if you're not going to work it hard, I don't think it would matter.

Sinter, Pfaff, Bernina ... I'm sure there are many more. I've heard people say Brother are good ... and Elna.

Have a look at an industrial one, my DW was a seamstress, so used them at work and had her own as well as a four stich overlocker, Pfaff do industrial ones but she preferred the Durkopp and Juki, look on this website Braithwaites.

Industrial might be overkill for Liz, they are heavy, bulky, and probably difficult to find one here in France but I wouldn't hesitate if one came available at the right price.
Years ago when I was building custom cars and vans a customer wanted a complete revamp of an interior. Fluted pleated panels, etc. I found an old industrial Singer that I needed help to lift, etc. Powerful motor and a brilliant smooth gradual clutch engagement. It could fly through an inch of foam-backed fabric and vinyl fast or slow. As a complete amateur I found it remarkably easy to control. All the modern domestic machines I have tried simply wanted to fly at full speed. Not great for tricky curves, etc. I recently sold my ancient pre-war Singer. Was sad to see it go even though it hadn't been used for years.

I have seen them in Lidl, don't laugh, OK not a top quality brand but for occasional work I would that they were more than adequate, after all the Parkside tools they sell are of a good quality.

I'd avoid the current Singers like the plague. As said above, even in the more expensive end of their range, cheap, nasty plastic parts have replaced the formerly good quality metal. The bobbins and seating are quite the most user-unfriendly I've ever come across and the one I got for my mother spent more time with the repair man than it did here. Lots of fancy stitch options but struggled with fine cotton fabric, never mind canvas!
Google, Amazon and Trust Pilot reviews could be a good starting point for Pfaff and Brother etc..?

Janome or Brother.
Don't go for a Singer. They're not what they used to be.
Also I wouldn't get an industrial, unless you're only using one type of stitch and need a fast machine. Maintenance and servicing could be a problem too.

Who reads yesterday's papers, who is interested in yesterday's sewing machines. About twenty years ago the OH bought a new sewing machine after weeks of market research. In a shop that was already there in the thirties of another century she finally bought this Elna. No complaints.

Quite a thing this thread coinciding with a grand daughter just emailing photos of a final project she's submitted for her UK college Textile Course.
The project was made on her great grandmother's 55 year old electric Singer machine which has been passed down through the generations.
She had it serviced by an old ex Singer engineer & apparently it & all the accessories are working perfectly.

55 years old? A mere pup in terms of good old engineering.