life is sweet

Got a mint vintage machine at a thrift. Looks like Singer 15-90, made in Japan, labeled w/John Wanamaker logo and badge says precision sewing machine deluxe precision built. I know it came from the department store of the same name but can't find a date or any info. It sews quite nicely but doesn't compare with my treasured 201. Anyone have any info on this machine? Many thanks in advance.

Cari-in-Oly

A pic would help but it sounds like you have a Japanese built 15 class clone. These were most common from the late 1940s to the late 1950s but that's about as much info as anyone can give you. They're great machines, a well tuned clone will generally sew a bumper to a Buick with no hesitation. No, they don't have that smooth feel of a 201-2, nothing else does, but a clone will sew what a 201 won't.

Cari

Mickey2

I have a belt driven 201K, I can't say it stands behind either a 66 or 15 when it comes to capability. It's a bit easier to adjust tension on the CB bobbin case. For some odd reason, my 66 and 99 runs lighter and a bit faster. If it's with out feed dog drop on the bed is't a very early one, if it has a turn knob it is probably at least early to mid 1950s. The three push botton versions are a bit later. It's a bit tricky to date these, you can find pale blue versions with origial receipt as late as the 1960s, even 1970s. The later ones can still have the typical Singer 15 stitch length lever and chromed plastic turn knob for the feed drop; they can be white, cream, pink, pale blue, pale green,... The back version was common around 1950, and a bit into the 50 colors seem to have become more popular.