The dark underside
 

Last year we posted tons of beautiful pictures of Japanese 15 clones. I love those machines. They are very cool. Easy to use and easy to take care of. I think they are good ones to learn on, great for piecing and WONDERFUL for free motion work.

This thread is it's own new thing - please post the pics of the under sides here... LOL Some of them don't have any ID stamped but some do.
These machines were made in Japan by various companies. All I am posting are Japanese 15 clones. If you have one I don't have on here feel free to post a pic.

Here is a link to the top sides of the Japanese 15 clones - lots of variety there and lots of info.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...p-t164361.html

Ok here is a pic of a bottom of a badged Modern Home 15 clone:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]379480[/ATTACH]

and another blue machine badged Mercury with no name in the bottom - only ID was a serial number
[ATTACH=CONFIG]379481[/ATTACH]

So let's look at a black one badged Challenge - made by RICCAR - I have two and both are the same but I got them in different places
[ATTACH=CONFIG]379482[/ATTACH]

I hope all these pictures will post ok with out all disappearing.

I'm thinking this one is a Montgomery Ward made by Happy:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]379483[/ATTACH]

Feel free to add on here - I have others and as I shoot them I will post pics of the undersides - I can not at this time tell you which ones are better than others. I think that is sort of up to the individual machine.

Oh my I can't leave off a Singer 15 - this one has seen better days - it's identity was the front badge - the machine's paint is in terrible shape
[ATTACH=CONFIG]379484[/ATTACH]

This attachment won't open and is saying to contact the administrator...

This picture didn't come through.

Funny your Modern Home has "Brother" cast into the underside of the bed. :)

actually, at the yahoo 'vintage japanese sewing machine' group we make an effort to do this- it often is the only way to get an idea about factories et cetera. That is how I know that my 'Capri' was made by Mr. Toyoda. Maybe not he himself, but you get the idea.

Joey had three of them, one's a JUKI the other two ??????????? Pictures coming shortly :)

Joe

Mercury Electric Dial-o-Matic
 

Wizard Sewing Machine, Model 40
 

Gosh, I would love to have a blue Wizard like that one! Hubs' nickname in the Navy was "Mr. Wizard" and c/s was "Wizard"

I collected little wizard statues for him and made him a wizard costume for Halloween, too. That is one BEEYOOTEEFUL machine! :)

I'm curious as to the "wonderful for Free motion quilting". I've had two 15 Japanese type clones and have sold them because they didn't FMQ well at all:<

The clones are the only ones I've had any luck doing free motion

I don't know why but when I post too many pictures they start to not open for some reason.
I'll try again on a different page.

Interesting. They're probably my least favorite FMQing machine.

OK, Here's my 15 Clones with their undersides:

HOTHER:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4635.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4637.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4638.jpg
Everything under the bottom is stamped JUKI. No J- A numbers anywhere. There is a J in a depressed hexagon with the numbers 106 under it in the center of the bed.
The badge reads;
HOTHER
The motor is a Belgelcor, UV 73, 1.0 AMP.

COMMODORE:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4640.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4641.jpg
There is no J- A numbers only O3 stamped on the underside of the bed.
The badge reads;
COMMODORE SEWING MACHINE CO.
DELUXE
1953
MADE IN JAPAN
The motor is an ALPHA SEW .9 AMP, but the original was the same Belgelcor the HOTHER originally had.

EDISON:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4642.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4643.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4644.jpg
There is no J- A numbers on the machine. The only markings are the serial number C 75774 on the lip of the bed.
The badge reads;
DELUXE
Deluxe Family
Sewing Machine
JAPAN
The motor is marked;
THE ELECTRICAL MFG. CO.
1/20 H.P. 5000 R.P.M.

On the back side of all three face plates is the mark:
TRADE MARK
then within dual circles the initials
SK

Joe

I'm going to try to post the Happy again and see if the pic stays up
[ATTACH=CONFIG]379564[/ATTACH]

The Happy was badged for Montgomery Ward and MW was the name of the machine. I love the little 4 leaf clovers:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]379565[/ATTACH]

I've got two HAPPY made machines, but neither is a HA-1 / 15 clone.

Joe

did the pictures stay up? I haven't cleaned Happy Go Lucky yet - well I did clean the exterior - that one was COVERED in stuff. I thought I was getting a case or parts - I think I'm going to like this one - turns nice and smooth.

I can see 'em.

Joe

COOL! I don't know why they work on one page and not another.
Maybe I can get a picture of the Singer 15-30 to come up
It doesn't seem to have any markings on the bottom. I did not know it was a Singer until I read the badge.
It has had the paint ground off in places. I haven't done any cleaning on it nor have I tested to see if it will sew.

This is very interesting to see the different markings on the machines. I wondered why I like some of the Japanese 15 clones better than others. One will turn a little better or have a better bobbin area or what ever. They are so much a like and yet each one will have it's own strengths or weaknesses.

Candace - what are you using for a foot for free motion. I have a couple different feet - one I like better than the others. Some of the clones have a little lever at the top to push for free motion - just remember to put it back when you are done or you will be very befuddled trying to make the machine sew when you want it to. You may or may not like to use that feature. The dogs do drop easy on a lot of the clones.

Might be interesting to note which models are good FMQ-ers and which ones aren't. :)

Maybe that should be a different thread? Maybe show a pic of the machine and a sample of work?

Oh my I can't leave off a Singer 15 - this one has seen better days - it's identity was the front badge - the machine's paint is in terrible shape and the bottom has no markings.
Since it didn't come up in window #8, I will re-post [ATTACH=CONFIG]379588[/ATTACH]

That old Singer does free motion - see that screw that adjusts the feed dogs? It also needs a really good clean up.

Here is a clone with no badged name. I'm thinking the decalss are just like a Universal clone with no markings on the under side. [ATTACH=CONFIG]379589[/ATTACH]

I might push my luck but here is a pic of[ATTACH=CONFIG]379590[/ATTACH] the front of the unbadged clone

it is no wonder they are called clones. They look so much like the Singer on the under side. The difference seems to be the bobbin shuttle style and what ever markings

Your unbadged clone has the same decals as my Edison.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_4642.jpg

Joe

my un-badged has the same decals as my Universal, too

If you look close at the "Edison" decal you can see the edges of it. It was not put on at the same time as the other ones. More like after the fact. The Edison decal is not the same quality as the others either.

Joe