just picked up a Kenmore m158.15000
 

Well, the obsession is off an running. I've got one old Singer 319w and I just picked up a Kenmore m158.15000

When I went to look at the 319w, the gent had several others that his father collected over the years. His father had passed and he had no interest in keeping them. After buying the 319w, he mentioned there were others in the back shed if I wanted to look. One was the Kenmore.

Its that 60's minty green, smoothly built and chrome bits thrown in for good measure. The presser foot was seized, but I didn't see any rust or damage so I suspect it just needs to be worked free. It has cams, does zig zag and straight stitch. I didn't look really close, but I believe it will do a double needle. The motor has a neat little spring loaded mechanism to tension the belt and make changes a snap. All gear drive is another nice feature. The tapered handwheel is a neat, but I'm not sure how good that will be for working/sewing.

While this isn't my pic, this is what it looks like:

http://faroutliving.com/menagerie/ph...e158.15000.jpg

The finish was quite nice on it for a "barn find" and it should clean up super nice.

It has that clean 50's 60's feel that I like too.

I went to the sears web site and was quite surprised at the level of support still available. I downloaded the owners manual and parts diagrams. I was almost shocked to see many many parts still available for it. From mechanical bits to cosmetic parts. Pleasantly surprising.

Right now, its a province away with a friend since I bought it over the phone. I passed on it while I was there the first time, then changed my mind once home. I'll collect it from my friend when we are in the area on summer vacation.

Oh yeah, the kicker?

I only paid 20 bucks for it.

:)

Very nice!

I've had 3 or 4 machines with seized presser bars. They usually just need oil, maybe some heat, and some gentle persuasion to free them up

Really nice machine!

I have one of those! It is the model of machine I learned to sew on when I was 6-7 yo. I got a bee in my bonnet that I wanted to find one a couple of years ago and actually won it off Goodwill.com for $11. It was at my local Goidwill so I didn't have to pay shipping. I think of my mother when I use it and this may sound stupid but I like the noise the door makes when you close it after threading the machine. It instantly takes me back to my childhood kitchen where I sewed!

Cool. I have one also but have not worked out the tension issue it came with.

If you are talking about vintage sewing machine obsession, then yes, with 2 machines now you are off to a good start. :D

Actually, it's three.

The singer 319W was first, then the Kenmore.

I also picked up a Singer 328 with the Kenmore, i just haven't mentioned it here.

The 328 was also 20 bucks.

:)

I know you've said you've had one for a long time, but are you sure it's a 1500?

From what I can see in the manual, the door doesn't have to be opened to thread it:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...psa9cf02e8.jpg

Yep, I have one too. Nice machine, sews quiet - except when using certain cams then it tends to be a bit noisy.

Oil it up good with Tri-Flow and let it sit for a bit and it should loosen up. But do take the top off and oil EVERYTHING that moves or looks like it should move.

Joe

Sweet looking machine. I like the clean lines. It probably does accept a double needle. the 2 spool pins is a good indicator. If it has 2 sets of discs in the tension assembly you'll know for sure. It may not be ideal (I doubt your friend has sewing machine oil or tri-flo laying around) but if you ask your friend to put a little oil on the presser bar you can get a little bit of a head start on freeing it up.
Rodney

You would think it's a double needle capable by the spool holders, but no.

It's only got one tension disc slot and no mention of it in the manual.

That's not to say I might not try to modify the tensioner some time in the future to see if I can get it to do double....:)