Macybaby

Another big clue to age - the earlier ones have a fiddle base. I'd say your original date is probably more correct. These machines have the serial number near the pillar, and you can't remove that. So if you are looking at a number on a removable plate, you are not looking at the serial number.

leonf

Thanks, Cathy.. poor monitor. You are corrrect.

Macybaby

I was wrong, it's not the "new family" but the "Improved Family" (or IF) that is the early 15 model. This is probably a 15-30 or it's a 115 (they are identical on the top side). If it takes a class 15 bobbin it's a 15-30. The earliest IF machines do not take a class 15 bobbin, it's a bit smaller. Singer used this decal pattern from 1900-1930.

WIChix

I don't know much about the 15-30 vs the 115, but either way, you have a gorgeous machine!

Macybaby

For those curious, the 115 is an rotating bobbin machine while the 15 is an oscillating bobbin machine. Singer only made the 115 for a rather short period of time, and it is identical to the 15 of that era on the top side.

Underneath, you can easily see the difference between the hook assembly - the 15 is the larger of the two.

Macybaby

Julia, at the base on the pillar of your machine, you should find something like this.



This is going to be the serial number of your machine.


This is a machine from 1857. A very early Singer 12. This machine is about half the height of the later Singers - which is why the later machines were called "High Arm" when they first came out. Most of my collection is of the "high arm" machine era, I only have a few that are not.



This is a later (1880's) verison of the Model 12

juliasb

I just took a pic and enlarged it and found something else that is closer to the original dates I had. Goes to show what age and poor vision does to you. I feel much better that I was closer the first time. I thought I was losing my touch. When I enlarged the pic I see the letter "G"!!!!. I wasn't happy with the 1861 date either because that should have been long bobbin days. Here is the pic. Thanks for all the thoughts on this I am glad that I am not to far off. With this "G" it puts it in and around 1910 even though the throat plate says 1905.

Macybaby

It's a very nice machine and that is a very pretty decal pattern. The best part is you can still get bobbins, bobbin cases and needles that fit!

leonf

I thought my 115 had extra appendages around the tensioner. I gave it to a sewing machine museum.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]615161[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]615162[/ATTACH]

and yes, I cleaned up the thread mess. It sewed when it left me.

juliasb

Mine is the larger of t he two