My 15-91 arrived today - looks great, needs wiring
 

This machine looks lovely. I've posted some pictures. Wheel won't turn yet, but I will work on that. Needs rewiring, and I am not willing to do that unsupervised by an expert. How do I find someone that can do the wiring for me? I may also need a new foot controller. How do you get the machine out of the art deco (type 42 I think) cabinet without cutting the wires to the foot controller?

I am in Northern Illinois. Not sure how to find a trustworthy repair person. There's one machine seller with repair staff that can probably handle it, but I don't like or trust the place.

So excited. I think she's a beauty! The drawers have all kinds of thinks like pinking shears, a box full of feet, original manual, and even the bill of sale. On December 11, 1948, a woman in Phoenix, Il. bought this machine for $260, and the bench for $26. My purchase at $100 for both is pretty good I'd say!

Thanks
Maggie

She's pretty!!

what a beauty. after WWII my dad was making $35.00 a week. $260.00 would have been a young fortune, but what an investment in a family's future

Nice machine! There are plenty of threads here on rewiring machines. There is also Archaic Arcane's blog with a lot of good tips - she's a member here. There is also plenty of other good info out there. Don't be scared to handle the job yourself. It's not that difficult. Being able to work on your own machine will also make you much more familiar and comfortable with it along with saving you some money.
Rodney

Just pull the 3 pin plug from the side of the machine. Here's a very good set of instructions for wiring-
http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2012/01/co...ted-motor.html

Cari

You might see if Jmiller would do it

Using the inflation calculator, $260 in 1948 is the equivalent of $2522.64 in 2014. These were high-end machines, and built to last - no "planned obsolescence" here.

Try loosening up the solidified oil by warming up the mechanism with a blow-dryer.

The 15-91 was my first machine, and I have a fondness for it that hasn't faded even after all the other models I've seen and tried. Great for free motion quilting. It's solid, reliable and forgiving of just about anything you put under the foot.

Rewiring is easier than you think.

Your machine is lovely but why no pics of that lovely cabinet also? lol My 15-91 should be rewired also but I am pretty sure my dh can do that easily. Maybe someone you already have an acquaintance with would be able to step in for that job. Good luck with that and cleaning her up. She is well worth it.

The easiest way to remove the machine from the cabinet is to undo the screws in the bottom of the controller. There will be two screws on the attaching the cord. Remove them, and slide the cord out from the hole in the mechanism.

I just rewired a 15-91 a couple of weeks ago. You can purchase replacement cords from sew-classic.

Maggie,

I can help with the wiring, but at this time I'm in a situation where I can't take in any work. We're still working on getting all our stuff moved here from IL.

That's a great machine, I had one that got sold, it's the one in the tread I sent you the link to, and now I have another that my wife found here in IN. Work, work, work, all those machines calling my name ........ Eeeekkkkkk!




Cari,
The machines in cabinets have the controller wire passing through a hole in the spring loaded assist thingy. The wire is hard wired into the rear of the cord block. So just unplugging the plug won't do it.


Joe