Old Singer Model 15?
 

My neighbor just gave me an old Singer which I think is a model 15. I don't know a whole lot about old sewing machines but have always wanted one to put in my future sewing room ... so I was really delighted when my neighbor brought this one over.

I would love to know something about this machine and just wanted to post some pics to see if anyone has any idea about how old this machine is and maybe its specific model? It has a serial number beginning with "C" which Singer's website says were made from 1908 on ... not much help narrowing it down though.

It also has a dome cover that is in pretty good shape. I have it in my head that some day I could have the wood refinished but it feels a little splintery so I'm not even sure if that's possible. Anyone know how difficult or how possible this would be or if it would be better to just leave it alone?

Here are some pics and thanks in advance!

I would wipe it down with Murphy's Oil Soap or just a damp rag. Or use a furniture/wood oil on it. Pledge with the lemon oil. What a thoughtful gift.

GiddyUpGo,


That is a nice machine / cabinet combo. I believe it's a model 115 though.

Here is a thread I started asking how to tell the difference between the 15s and 115s.
{ http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t216990.html }
I think there is peektchurs in there that will help.



Joe

-------------------------------------------------

***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts ;) .***

Get the entire number and look it up at ISMACS. Are you certain it begins with "C"? C serials are quite unusual, although 1908 sounds about right.

It looks very much like a (1)15 to me. These things can sew through baked beans tins! Really, look at sewalot's youtube demo. Very good machine, you've done well.

Mike

Yes, I think Joe has good eyes. It looks like 115 to me too.

Thank you everyone for the replies! It is a "C" serial number but sadly, ISMACS says almost nothing about them except "Beginning 1908." And something about the Russian army destroying a lot of Singer's equipment in 1945.

I checked out the thread comparing the 115 to the 15, but unsurprisingly it just succeeded in confusing me even more, haha. Because I truly don't know anything about old machines and at first wasn't even sure how to find the bobbin area! But I did take a couple of other shots of the parts showed in the pictures on that thread ... the bobbin winder does look exactly like the 115 in the picture but the bobbin area itself look more like the 15. The other bits look different enough as to be inconclusive ... at least in my brain anyway!

As you can see, this old machine needs some TLC ... the bobbin area in particular is pretty rusty!

Wow, it's really a "C". Does that make it German?
You can always re-plate the bits that are meant to be shiny (the electroplater will be able to tell you what it is plated with).
It's pretty special whether it's a 115 or 15 but if I had to guess, the plain decals suggest later manufacture, and that makes it most likely a 115.

Show the underside, and it will be as clear as a bell which one it is. I also think it looks like a 115.

Another easy way to tell - watch the bobbin race, if it goes full circle, it's a 115, it it goes half way around and hten switched direction, it's a 15. The 115 is a rotating bobbin, the 15 is an osculating bobbin.

There is a machine on Ebay that is also a "C" serial number. It has a different decal pattern, but otherwise is identical in shape and face plate to yours. That one shows the bottom, and it is a model 15.

Will be interesting to hear for sure what yours is.

OK, here is the spider-web covered underbelly ... :) To me it looks more like the photo of the 15 in that other thread, but I think I'm too uneducated to make the call ...