Shelbie

I bought a handcrank Singer 15-98 today very reasonably from a quilt guild member who said it was in very good shape. Once I got it home and really looked at it, I saw several things that didn't seem quite right. The serial number 492567 doesn't seem like a Singer and the decals although in perfect shape aren't quite right either. The machine and case is pristine and it sews really well. I suspect that it is a reproduction but can't find very much about these when I googled it. Does anyone have any information on these machines and know when and where they were made? I'm not annoyed with the seller who had no idea that it wasn't the "real thing". I do have a machine that will sew if the hydro is out and I don't have many $ tied up but I would like to know a little more in case I do want to sell it sometime.

J Miller

It is a Singer, but it's a recent or current Indian or Chinese made machine. Qualities vary. Most are shiny and gaudy.
I have only one link to a source of them and that's the Indian Singer site:
{ http://www.singerindia.net/Straight_Stich.aspx?id=1 }

These machines come as treadles, hand crank, and electrics. I've yet to see one in person but there is no Singer shop in Springfield.

Joe

Shelbie

Thanks for this link Joe. I think I have a Singer Premium machine or one very much like it. It wasn't what I expected but it's part of the Singer history and it does sew.

J Miller

Shelbie,

You're welcome. Glad to be of help when I can.
I've got the wants to put one of those in treadle forum in my collection some day.

Joe

Mitch's mom

Does it have a knob on the bed to drop the feed dogs? The knob is a dead give away that it is a reproduction Singer.

ArchaicArcane

I have a guy near here who wants me to buy his off him. Model 15 repro with the Memphis decals on it, in a treadle. I'm sort of interested, but I have no idea what it's worth to offer him. It's in great shape though.

Mitch's mom

Is it in an original wood and cast iron treadle cabinet or a particle board and pot metal fake one?

ArchaicArcane

My guess is that it's a repro cabinet too but it's held together better than most of the ones I've seen, but I'd have to see it again, it's been close to 6 months (and about 30 machines) since I saw it.

EDIT: Originally he thought he'd taken it to the Singer store and had them upgrade his machine with a motor, but it looks like what they did was "Trade" for a repro machine. Which in retrospect means the treadle cabinet may be original. I might have to go take a look at it again. I originally left it there because he had to dig up the treadle parts that he'd taken off and stored because he didn't need them with an electric machine. I said when he found them to give me a dingle. I heard from him last week.

Mitch's mom

If it is an original treadle ~ that is one thing. I wouldn't give a plugged nickle for the repro one. The metal is very brittle and prone to catastrophic failure - as in you could be treadling along and the whole thing comes crashing down because the legs gave way.