Tilladare

I could really use some help ID'ing my new machine. It's a Singer treadle in cabinet. The cabinet is slightly smaller than I am used to seeing, the actual leg portion look to be formed of steel instead of wrought iron, although the wheel and treadle portion is wrought iron. I can't find any info on the serial number JD046980. There is also a plate above the serial number which reads 15J. The machine itself seems to be in excellent condition, only needs a cleaning, oiling, and a new treadle belt. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry for the sideways and up side down pics, I don't know how to flip them.

Mickey2

That's the model number 15J. I assume it's the same as the later 15, like the 15-90 or -91, but treadle and spoked hand wheel in stead of motor parts. The only odd thing I can see is the small horizontal metal bit in the front, just next to the face plate. I think the JD serial number records might be lost, but there is some info on this page. It looks like JD numbers were made from 1954-61. It's a late treadle version, it looks all orginal.

Tilladare

Thats part of the thread path for winding the bobbins I believe

Tilladare

Thank you Mickey2! Would you (or anyone else) know if I need a manual specific to this model?
I have the manual for 15-88 and 15-89, and also the manual for 15-91.

Mickey2

If the manual shows a Singer 15 with the stitch length lever you are pretty safe. -88 is the subnumber for threadle, 91 for potted motor. I think 89 is for belt driven motor, other wise exactly the same. The are a lot of variations on the 15, some have slighly different threading, tensioner, bobbin winder and bobbin case, but I think all the ones with stitch lenght lever and reverse are the same. You don't need to think about grease on the treadle version, just find a good oil and detect all the oil points. Maby you can use grease on the treadle irons, but use oil if you don't take it appart.

bkay

I'm not sure what that brass bar is, but it's not related to the bobbin function.

The thread path for bobbin filling is the same on all the "modern" 15's. I've marked it in red in the photo.

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Macybaby

if you mean the brass bar located on the pillar right above the serial number and below the Badge - that is the model number plate. You don't find that on earlier Singers. It should say 15J, or possibly 15-J-88 . J donotes made in Canada, K denotes made in England, no letter is USA, until they started using A. It actually denotes the location of the Plant.

BTW - for this series model 15, 88 is treadle, 89 is hand crank, 90 is external motor, 91 is potted motor. The 88 and 89 will have the larger spoked handwheel, but other than that, they are the same machine as the 90. I had a nice 15-88 in a horrid treadle cabinet. Took it out and put a motor on it and it's one of my favorite machines.

Tilladare

Thank you everyone
bkay: I thought that was the correct path, I misunderstood the question about the horizontal bar to be about the tension guide.
Macybaby: the plate does indeed say 15J, and since this is a treadle, I am going to assume it is a 15-88...

As best as I can determine from following the links and guessing at the rest, I'm thinking that given the relatively low serial number, this machine was made in 1954 at the St John factory. But of course I may be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time

Mickey2

I would guess relatively early too, because of decals and the black color. I'm not sure, there were overlap in productions regarding all the features; 15s with screw-nut stitch length adjuster and no reverse are known to have serial number as late as 1950. Around 1954-55 they can turn up in beige paint and with an updated look, and even pale green. I don't know if model 15 ever was cast in aluminium, but around this time the 201K was. In the US it looks like the 201 continued as a black cast iron machine. Your machine would probably have a manual listing it as a model 15J-88.