Necchi · Zigzag · From 1932 (US manual 1951)
Vittorio Necchi turned his family's iron foundry in Pavia to sewing machines in 1919, and in 1932 the company finished the BU, which Necchi calls the first domestic machine with zigzag stitching. Its zigzag doesn't come from cams. The needle and the central-bobbin shuttle move sideways together, a patented mechanism, and it does buttonholes, buttons, monograms and darning that way. The motor bolts onto the back of the arm and drives the handwheel by belt, and it runs on AC or DC. A third presser-bar level marked Ricamo lifts the foot for embroidery without releasing the tension. Necchi's US brochure said its hooks, bobbin cases and bobbins fit other standard makes. Put the needle in with the flat side to the right, the opposite of a Singer.
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.
The manual's maintenance points are belt tension and keeping the shuttle race clean and oiled. Needles put in Singer-style, flat side left, make it skip.
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
Only five BUs are listed, so there's no market read here. The one complete BU with shipping quoted is the plain one at $333 delivered, $163 of that shipping on a heavy head. The two in cabinets quote no shipping, so they suit a buyer who can collect. Ask any seller for a video of the handwheel turned by hand and a full-width zigzag, and check the needle goes in flat side to the right, since one put in Singer-style makes a BU skip. The as-is BU at $140 delivered is a project, and we'd skip the zero-feedback BU Nora in South Africa.
$333.15est. delivered
The only complete BU here with shipping quoted, at $333 delivered, $163 of it shipping. Ask whether the motor, speed control and bobbin case come with it, and for a video of it sewing zigzag.
Vintage Necchi BU Sewing Machine
$139.98est. delivered
Titled as is and untested, at $140 delivered, about $190 under the only other BU with shipping quoted. The photo shows the motor and cords, so ask whether the handwheel turns and the motor runs.
Necchi BU Sewing Machine Vintage Italian Domestic Black Antique AS IS Untested
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$333.15est. delivered
$170.00 + $163.15 shipping
Buy It Now$170.00
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.
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Good buy
Head on a base. Ask what's included.
Seller: oddmentco
100% positive
For parts$139.98est. delivered
$99.99 + $39.99 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
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.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Titled as is and untested. Motor and cords in the photo.
Seller: tclipse97
99.6% positive
Used$250.00+ shipping
$250.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$250.00
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.
Our take
In an Art Deco cabinet with extras, and the photo shows only the cabinet. Local pickup only.
Seller: sak3
98.8% positive
Used$299.00+ shipping
$299.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$299.00
Our take
In a cabinet with extra feet and needles. No shipping quoted; ask, or plan on pickup.
Seller: hotpopculturegemshop
99.6% positive
Used$300.00+ shipping
$300.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$300.00
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
Zero feedback, in South Africa, with no shipping quoted. Expect freight and check the voltage.
Seller: ginge52
No feedback yet
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