Singer 15-91 or Singer 301
 

I have the opportunity to purchase either a 15-91 (1948 - 1950) in cabinet 65 for $50 or bid on a Singer 301 in a Queen Anne table (current bid is $75). I favor the 301 because I know I could potentially find a case and use is as a portable machine but I have a limited budget that I am willing to spend.

I haven't seen either in person. The 301 appears to have been kept indoors.

I currently have a White Family Rotary treadle machine (which I haven't sewn with yet) and a singer 128-23 ( I still haven't fixed the power cord yet). I also have 2 more modern machines - a Pfaff 7570 and a Juki 98e.


So what do you think? Which would you go for?

Oh, I have both of them. I use the 15's ALL the time! I like the 301. Lot's. Tough choice, but lot's less issues with the tension on the 15 than the 301. Feed dogs drop on the 15 ever so nicely!

Owner of
1946 Singer 15, 1951 Singer 15, 1951 301, 1951 301 They all are great!
(also Singer 66, Janome 9500, Janome Gem)

The really easy answer is to get both :) BUT in my area of the US the 301's are not all that common to find. If your eventual goal is to have both, go for the 301 now as the model 15's are more commonly found.

Well I bought a 301. The bid on the one with the cabinet went over the max I wanted to pay. However, I found another 1 on ebay, in a case that I could just buy - without bidding - that was less than the one in the cabinet. So I bought it. I hate the bidding when you really want something. Now I just have to discipline myself not to look anymore. That singer 15-91 in the cabinet for $50 is still calling my name but I don't need it and really don't have a place for it.

Aw, come on. Just one more. What could it hurt? You'll be able to stop any time... Sure you will :)

Get rid of some of the others and make some room the 15 is a good machine - some of the 15 clones turn faster

I just got a 301, its portable, doesn't take much space and you could probably get a 15 much cheaper at a yard-sale, I see them all the time. So my opinion is get the 301 :thumbup:

I love my 15-91, I'm not familiar with the 301 though. The 15 has a feed dog that drops and it sews through thick leather and the finest cotton, all without changing the tension! I love this machine, I call it the tank.

I re-upholstered a chiropractor's table with 10 different sections. The leather was a full 1/4" thick! He ordered the leather from New Zealand, I didn't know cows came that big! :D The tank didn't even hiccup. I used an 11 needle for leather.