What did I buy for $50?
09-17-2013, 05:08 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 70
What did I buy for $50?
I found this lovely machine at an antique store this past weekend. The cabinet isn't in great condition, but the machine is lovely! 
I know nothing of antique sewing machines, from what research I've done it appears to be a 15 series made in Canada in the late 40s-early50s. But what version of the 15 it is, I cannot figure out. It looks to have been a treadle converted to an electric motor. I was hoping that the collective wisdom of this board could help me out. I need to get a manual for it. It only came with a few bobbins. The guy at the store didn't know anything about it other than it was running when he got it a few weeks ago. I am trying to post pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I know nothing of antique sewing machines, from what research I've done it appears to be a 15 series made in Canada in the late 40s-early50s. But what version of the 15 it is, I cannot figure out. It looks to have been a treadle converted to an electric motor. I was hoping that the collective wisdom of this board could help me out. I need to get a manual for it. It only came with a few bobbins. The guy at the store didn't know anything about it other than it was running when he got it a few weeks ago. I am trying to post pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
09-17-2013, 07:27 PM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 1,382
It is a 15-88, to which someone has added a motor and a light.
I have a machine just like that, and I used to have that treadle table as well, and someone added the motor and light to mine as well.
I'd convert it back to a treadle, as they are pretty cool.
You can download a manual for it at singerco.com.
I have a machine just like that, and I used to have that treadle table as well, and someone added the motor and light to mine as well.
I'd convert it back to a treadle, as they are pretty cool.
You can download a manual for it at singerco.com.
Last edited by mlmack; 09-17-2013 at 07:30 PM.
09-18-2013, 05:21 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 8,136
Singer used the 15-xx on both Industrial and Domestic machines, one of the reasons for the confusion for sellers saying the Model 15 is industrial - when they really have a domestic production machine. And sometimes Singer used the same -xx for both the domestic and industrial version - just put heavy duty insides in one of them.
The 15 Class was made from 1895-1957
Yours in is this "group" BTW- the 15-86 is in an earlier age group
Produced between 1933-1956 (though it looks like Singer stopped production on the treadle/hand style before the electric)
88 is treadle (spoked flywheel)
89 is hand crank (spoked flywheel)
90 is electric belt motor (solid flywheel)
91 is electric potted motor
More often than not, for any given time frame of production, the -XX numbers differentiation between power sources, and not any other options.
The 15 Class was made from 1895-1957
Yours in is this "group" BTW- the 15-86 is in an earlier age group
Produced between 1933-1956 (though it looks like Singer stopped production on the treadle/hand style before the electric)
88 is treadle (spoked flywheel)
89 is hand crank (spoked flywheel)
90 is electric belt motor (solid flywheel)
91 is electric potted motor
More often than not, for any given time frame of production, the -XX numbers differentiation between power sources, and not any other options.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
