Imagine my surprise!
 

I decided to re-check the serial number on my old treadle. I always went by the date on the plate. Which I found out today was a replacement part.
When I looked up the serial number on my machine I was in shock! Me who has been restoring machines for years. I got lazy with this last machine since I only did this one about 10+ years ago. (I went on a binge 35 years ago to restore machines).
Anyway when I looked up the serial number (4,324,958) I discovered this machine was much older than I thought. It came out of the factory around 1861! I checked 3 different sources. There is no letter in the serial number. I feel a bit foolish for not checking thoroughly years ago. I am glad however that I did check it now!

How old were you thinking it was? By the way, how does it run?

is it a 12? pics maybe? Congrats.

How exciting for you! Congratulations on taking the time to check it out now -- do you mind us asking what type/model she is?

I thought it was a 1905 model because the plate was dated with several dates so I figured it had to be the youngest date which was 1905. Older dates on the plate went back to the mid 1800's
It runs great!! I have used it a number of times for quilt making and garment making. I just recently oiled her all up and replaced the belt. It is a very quiet machine all the way around and doesn't miss a stitch.

I could not find the model number on it I could be looking in the wrong place. It looks to be a 201 but I wouldn't take a bet on it. The decals are not in prime shape but they are in very good shape. I posted a pic of her a while back ago. I will have to see if I can find it. It is a Singer btw.

Here is a picture of it. It took me only a moment to find the pic.

hmmm I am thinking you still don't have a proper ID yet. This looks like a 66 to me. They came along in the 1900s. Models aren't on the machines

She may not be "prime" as you put it, but she's still pretty to me as a newbie! Also, have to say if she works so well as you've said, to me that's all that would matter. :)

It's most certainly not from 1861. This is a "New Family" or 15 machine - or possibly 115, and Singer was not making them that early.

Leon, notice where the tension is located - for sure not 66

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.

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

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.

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

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.

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps772d7d82.jpg

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

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psrh9bizcj.jpg

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.

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...psc8a9e3a1.jpg

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

https://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps4qj60snw.jpg

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.

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!

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.

Mine is the larger of t he two

I had heard of errors - particularly with the "G" numbers in the serial number lists. I actually saw a 66 a few years back in a thrift store. I quadrupled checked and the serial number was not one that had been allotted to a 66. It looks like you may have found another. According to http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...l-numbers.html yours should be a 115 rather than a 15. The serial number would have been allotted December 14, 1915. I believe you may have left out a digit to come up with the 1910 date.

I really like the decals. It was quite a while before I could get a machine with the "Tiffany/Gingerbread" decals. I now have a 15 and 115 with those decals. They aren't the greatest specimens, but they are mine.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Sorry to hijack the thread but does the rotating bobbin make a difference to the sewing compared to a 15?

Oh and Juliasb, your is a lovely machine whether a 15 or a 115! I am partial to the gigerbread decals ;)