The Supermatic replaced Elna's first machine, the 1940 "Grasshopper", and it was built by Tavaro in Geneva from 1952 to 1964. It's a free-arm portable whose carrying case opens into a work table, and its party trick is the Elnagraph, a reader that follows plastic Elna discs. Single discs set the zigzag width, and double discs also move the feed forward and back, which is why Wikipedia calls it the world's first home machine with automated reverse feed. Early machines came with five discs and later ones with ten and a push-button disc ejector. The color tells you roughly when it was made, from dark green in 1952 through light green and beige to light grey at the end. Speed is set with a knee lever, so make sure it's in the case.
Under the throat plate
Ask for a photo under the slide plate with the bobbin case in place. A missing bobbin case or the wrong needle system is the most common reason a machine that looks fine won’t sew.
Old oil thickens and makes it run stiff, especially in a cold room. Missing discs and a missing knee lever are the common losses, and the color-matched case often arrives damaged.
New to old machines? How to check a used sewing machine walks through the handwheel, the wiring, the bobbin case and a test seam.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1953 Supermatic with its convertible case and 11 Elna discs at $224 delivered, under the $240–350 band most complete machines ask. There are at least 24 for sale. Discs and the knee lever are the usual losses, so count the discs in the photos and check the knee lever is in the case, since it's the main speed control. The serviced one at $405 is the least work if you'd rather not clean thick old oil out yourself. Skip the $485 listing whose photo shows only the closed case, and the two sharing one title, one of which shows a beige machine under a 1956–58 date from the light-green years.
$177.27est. delivered
The lowest delivered Supermatic, with its metal case, at $177. The beige body dates it to about 1958–63, and it isn't titled tested, so ask whether the knee lever and any Elna discs are in the case.
Vntg Elna Sewing Machine 722010 Supermatic Metal Case Switzerland
$223.60est. delivered
A 1953 Supermatic with its convertible case and 11 discs, under the band from a 99.4% seller. Discs are the common loss, and 11 is more than any Supermatic came with.
VTG 1953 Elna Supermatic Sewing Machine 722010 w Convertible Case & 11 Cam Discs
$404.90est. delivered
The only Supermatic here titled serviced, with its case and accessories, at $405 delivered. Ask what the service covered and whether the knee lever is included.
Vintage Elna Supermatic Sewing Machine W/ Case & Accessories (Serviced)
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$177.27est. delivered
$137.26 + $40.01 shipping
Buy It Now$137.26
Good buy
Beige body and metal case. Not titled tested.
Seller: netche
100% positive
Used$223.60est. delivered
$174.99 + $48.61 shipping
Buy It Now$174.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
1953, with convertible case and 11 discs.
Seller: youshallknow
99.4% positive
Serviced$404.90est. delivered
$324.95 + $79.95 shipping
Buy It Now$324.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled serviced, with case and accessories.
Seller: zxsas
99.3% positive
Used$260.60est. delivered
$189.99 + $70.61 shipping
Buy It Now$189.99
Our take
Titled working. No case or discs mentioned.
Seller: mikessticks
99.7% positive
Used$306.59est. delivered
$199.99 + $106.60 shipping
Buy It Now$199.99
Our take
Titled working, 1956–58, with case.
Seller: natmad_80
99.2% positive
Used$296.39est. delivered
$200.00 + $96.39 shipping
Buy It Now$200.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Same title as another seller, and the photo shows a beige machine, not 1956–58 light green.
Seller: okj-9576
100% positive
Used$330.00est. delivered
$285.00 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$285.00
Check the seller
96.6% feedback, and another seller uses the same title. Compare the photos.
Seller: auslaz0
96.6% positive
Used$484.87est. delivered
$400.00 + $84.87 shipping
Buy It Now$400.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
The photo shows only the closed case, and it asks about 1.7 times the median.
Seller: mmtrvl
100% positive
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