bkay

I posted a while back on what model my Mom's machine might be. The best guess was that it was a 15-X. Mother's machine was bought new in the early 50's. There's a 15-91 built in 1933 for sale on Craig's list. Would the older one be comparable to Mother's?
bk

miriam

You would have to go by serial numbers

Mickey2

Yes, it should be very comparable bk. All the 15-91 has the revers lever (I think you mentioned it in the other thread if I remember correctly), and the only difference should be the decor on the chromed plates. By 1950 it was usually a pin striped decor, ealier models had grape wines, art nouveau knots, and what not. The gold decals might differ slightly but tends to be rather minimal from the 1930s and up. As far as I now, modes 15-91 with the potted motor never went through much alternations or improvements as long as it was in production. If you are fairly sure you remember it having reverse lever and no motor belt this is the sub-model.

Macybaby

The possible difference is that the very first group of the 15's with full reverse came out with a silver tone cover for the stitch length circle. That would have been 1932 and into 1933. I don't think it was a special run, just something Singer started with too highlight the change, and then decided to go with something simpler.

1933 model 15-91



this is a 1952 model 15-91




If the 15 is before 1932, it probably would not have reverse. There is a knob on the pillar is to adjust the stitch length, but it only goes forward.

I'll add - Singer still made some of the older style when they first came out with the newer style. this is a 15-86 from 1935. Very much like the earlier 15-30, except the stitch length lever works opposite.

Mickey2

Cathy, the first picture you posted is the nicest model 15-91 I've seen. It looks like it's hardly used at all. Is it yours?

Macybaby

Yes, these three are part of my Singer 15 collection. I've got them from the early IF to the 15-125.

Manalto

Also, note the hand wheel on the earlier 15s is chrome (or nickel) and on the later machines (roughly after WWII) they're black.

The later incarnation of the 15 is the 15-125, in two-tone green (US). They were also available in two-tone brown or black in the UK.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]547280[/ATTACH]

Macybaby

I have a green 15-125 (potted motor) and a black 15-75 (regular motor). The black one shown above is a 15-75

miriam

There were some big changes in the tensions, too. The older ones have a bar for thread the newer ones have a little gadget. The tension springs are not the same.