I've never used a real Mdl 15 let alone a 15-91. I do have several machines that are similar and are wonderful machines. But what impressed me the most about the 201-2 is it's so quiet.
I have other quiet machines, but not like this. I'm at a loss for words to describe it.

Joe

Caroline, you found a true treasure! I restored the top of my table. If you want to clean it up, here's what you do... This is only a 2 day process. Clean the wood top with murphy's oil soap. From your picture, it looks pretty grimy on the table in front of the machine.

After the grime is cleaned off, take the top off the table, remove all the hardware. Place the wood pieces on layers of newspaper. This next step is to restore your table, this will not refinish your table.(Restoring keeps the value, refinishing ruins the value) If you have any dark rings (from glasses, etc) use 00 or 000 or 0000 steel wool to buff the dark spots away. Don't use sand paper!

You'll need denatured alcohol and rags. The finish on your table is made from shellac, which is made with denatured alcohol. Pour the denatured alcohol on the rag and wipe with the grain, quickly from edge to edge. What you're doing is dissolving the shellac. As you spread it from side to side you're filling the scratches with the same shellac. Your goal is not to remove all the shellac, just move it around and let it dry again. After you see the scratches are gone, take a rag soaked with alcohol once again and go over the entire top to smooth it all out.

Once it's dry, use a paste wax for furniture. I used Briwax in the antique mahogany color. It's a fine furniture grade wax.
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I didn't do the sides, only the top and it looks identical in color to the rest of the table. The wax gives it a matte finish that won't scratch when my quilt pins slide across it. I wish I had taken 'before' photos! I'm kicking myself for not doing this. It was in pretty bad shape. The shellac was flaking off on nearly half the top, and there were rings from water glasses. It was filthy with thick black gunk in front of the machine, just like yours shows. (What's the matter with these people??? Don't they know how to clean? Yuck! LOL)

Christine,

Thanks for the instructions to restore the cabinet. I printed it for reference as I have several that need attention.

Joe

shie is a very pretty 15-91. And you will love her for FMQ, her harp space is nice, and her feed dogs go down!

I believe you will also find the light on the 201 is in the front of the machine, instead of in the rear.
Enjoy your new acquisitions! cathy vj in MA

I have a Singer Serial # JB291470 - I have checked ISMACS & can't seem to find any info. Can someone help me here - maybe Charlee or Joe? Could it be a 201 or 15-91??? Looks very similar to the one in Caroline's pictures but I know many models look similar. Would appreciate any help here.

Can you post a pic of your sewing machine and a pic of the serial number? Someone will tell you what you have. The JB prefix is a puzzler.

Callen,

The charts that tell me the model number by serial number do not go to the dual letter numbers.
All I can find out from the charts I have is that JB is 1936 and made in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada.

If the machine has a potted motor like Carolines but has a tensioner on the front it's most likely a 201-2.

If you post a pic we can ID it.

Joe

I found another site & according to them it was made between 1936 - 1948. Checking another site where they identify machines by their decals I think I may have an "Eye & Trefoils" & in another column it has the number 15 which means nothing to me. Does that mean anything to you guys? When my DH gets home I will have him download the pics I took & hopefully post them. I thought I originally had the design "celtic swirl" but I pretty sure I was wrong. I am almost certain the design is the "Eye & Trefoils" design. Maybe this 15 # denotes what you people have been talking about 15-91. Can you tell that I am new to this vintage thing?????