pinkCastleDH

One of the new old machines that we picked up in the last couple of weeks (it's an addiction but I'm not looking to kick the habit yet!) is a 115 with the Tiffany/Gingerbread decals. Before we bought it I thought it was a 15 but when I took a look at the mechanicals I was pretty sure it was a 115 and checking the serial number confirmed it (dated in 1916 IIRC.)

I've since done some looking around and I'm not finding much at about the 115. On ebay I see a gazillion 15s but very few 115s. Does this mean that the 115 is that uncommon or (my guess) that a lot of people are mislabeling 115s as 15s? What differences are there in the accessories between the two? I'm guessing that the bobbin might be different but I don't know if there are other differences. Does anyone know if there would be a problem converting this treadle head to hand-crank usage?

SWMBO is planning to post pictures of this machine and some of the others today so I'll leave that for her.

pinkCastleDH

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Charlee

There are a few differences in the 15's and the 115's. The bobbin for the 115 is a 20U [ATTACH=CONFIG]363731[/ATTACH](still available)
The 115 was considered to be the "Top of the Line" of the time. I have the machine with the earliest recorded serial number for this model, according to a person on Needlebar that has collected serial numbers (all models) for more than 30 years. I saw somewhere that Singer only made about 300K of the 115's, altho I think that number may have been for only one year, or totally off....I've never added up the 115's on the serial number lists.

There are no differences for the attachments...what fits your 15-91 will fit your 115. Standard short shank attachments.

My 115 has a boss under the handwheel on the pillar, so there shouldn't be a problem if you want to handcrank your machine.

pinkCastleDH

Charlene,

Thanks! The cabinet ours came in wasn't nearly as nice as yours but that's ok - particularly if we hand crank it.

I'd love to get one of the drawing room cabinets but SWMBO is dead set against it. Actually she's dead set against any more treadle cabinets showing up but she really doesn't seem to want the enclosed treadle even if it replaced one of the others.

Charlee

At least until she sees one of these in person PCDH! It's a way cool cabinet!

pinkCastleDH

I believe you! I know she's afraid that it will be just too bulky but I think she's just not getting the scale of it right (all of the cabinets look larger in pictures than they do in person.) I think one of these in light oak (say this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/EXC-SINGER-P...item46078bdffa which is actually close enough for us to pick up) would fit our Victorian house to a T.

Charlee

PCDH....let PC know that mine is no wider than a typical treadle cabinet! I thought they'd be huge too, from pics I'd seen, but actually, it's not.