No bobbins or cover was included. The motor is a Bell Universal 1/15 h.p. It looks in good shape, of course all I see is the outside. The machine is really clean underneath and I'm really excited to get it sewing again. It does look very retro and I'm impressed with the finish on it. I connected it when I first got it and it was raring to sew! I was standing away at first and then I could not help but press the foot peddle. Off she took! I've got her named. In Southern California at the beach there are rare times during the setting sun when it drops below the ocean and a visible green flash appears briefly. So that's her name The Green Flash!
Originally Posted by thepolyparrot
Actually, this is one case where buying a replacement motor is much cheaper than getting the old one rebuilt. ;)
A new motor of this type costs $22.
The last time I asked about it, to rebuild this type of motor costs $70-120.
I always recommend replacing the motors and electrical components for a machine like this because I grew up as a fire chief's daughter and I'm paranoid about electricity. :)
I like the safety of the new electrical and I like the fact that the motor hasn't been sitting around for 50 years collecting dust and cigarette smoke and humidity. There's no weird smoking when you run them and no odd smells. There's no drag on the bearings from 50-year old lubrication. A lot of convenience for $22.
When I get a new 15-91 or 201, I send my motors to Jenny at sew-classic.com to have them rebuilt/rewired. It's a lot more expensive, but they're not making motors of that type any more, so it's the only option.
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Bernie, I didn't notice the bobbin at first, but now that I look at this again, of course it has the horizontal bobbin and the front facing tensioner. So it's not like the usual clones that copy the 15-90/91 - this is like a cross between the 15 and the 201. I've never noticed one like this before. :)
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Tinabug, did this machine have a bobbin in it? It looks like it takes a class 66 bobbin, like the 201.
It's a really pretty color - I remember my grandmother had a bunch of kitchen utensils with this color enamel on the handles. Very retro. :)