Originally Posted by SewExtreme
Suzi, forgive me for being slow... do you own a 15 or a 15 clone? The machine I am looking at is a simple 15.
Are the older 15s as much of a workhorse as the newer ones? I have a 15-91 from about 1951 and I know it is a workhorse. Do you think $75 is too much? :-D
Mine is a Challenge (made in Japan) and sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co. Has to be a 15 (too old to be a clone - lol). And yes, she's a workhorse. I probably shouldn't say this (because if I do she will explode or something) but she has never seen a service person. She is cleaned, oiled and used by me and me alone and if she gets to clattering a bit she's oiled some more. About the only things I have to replace is her belt (are you aware that the belts they make today simply do NOT hold up like they used to?) and her bobbin winding tire.
Considering they cost new (back in the 50's) around $49.99 and considering the machines of today have totally lost their simplicity - I feel that she's worth whatever you want to pay for her. How's that for getting around your question? For $75 she had better be pristine though. IMHO