I bought this Singer yesterday and have had problems finding information about it. The Singer site just says 1954. The serial # is JD371539. There is a sticker underneath that indicates it was made in Canada, and I have confirmed that the 191J's were Canadian. It is very heavy, cast iron, came with what I think is the zigzag attachment and a few inserts to make different patterns. I do have the original manual. The cover for the electric cord, where it plugs into the machine, is broken but other than that it looks pretty good. I'm not sure whether this is an original case - doesn't look like it to me. I haven't done any cleanup yet. Anybody have any information on the 191's?

Looks just like my 191 but it was made in japan. My manuals are in Japanese. Any chance you would be willing to copy/scan yours and share it with me?

Mine came in a treadle cabinet but had the electric motor added. I have removed that and Mitsuko is now in for Billy's spa treatment. I hope to have her back together this week. But some of the oil goo is taking longer to soften. It really makes me practice my patience.

Looks to me like the attachment is a button holer. I am not sure about the case either.

I would be happy to scan the manuals and share. Give me a day or two to get it done. I'd love to see pictures of yours (before and after). Are you having it painted too? He does such wonderful paint jobs.

You know, you are right. When my husband first asked me what that thing was, I told him it was a buttonholer. Then I looked through the 191 manual and saw the pictures of the automatic zigzagger, and thought maybe it was that instead. Now I finally got it out of the box, checked the numbers on the back, and it is indeed a buttonholer. The zigzagger (shown on the following link) looks very similar and probably works in a similar fashion, at least as it zigzags down each side of the hole. And they both use cams.
http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...tachments.html

I'm working on this one myself. It is tan and the paint is in good condition. Besides, I cannot afford Billy's prices. But hopefully we can work out a deal while he is visiting. I have a Necchi BU that the paint is falling off of that I would like him to paint.

Here is the before picture that I had posted in the shop last week.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-43881-242.htm#1340851

No hurry on the manual. I am going to visit my Mom next week so probably will not be sewing before then.

Lisa you go on and send me the Necchi and tell me what color you want and we will work it out in the wash.

Billy

Thanks Billy! I am sure that wash will clean out my garage so I will have more room to buy more machines!

I am having a hard time deciding on color and if I want any fancy details. I hear them called the Ferrari of sewing machines. So maybe I will look at some paint schemes they use on them..... :-o

Ferrari Red, Black, Blue or Yellow I can more than likely put the Necchi back on there by making the decals for it.

I vote for the real deal Ferrari Red with Gold Necchi decals.

Billy

[quote=Lostn51
Ferrari Red, Black, Blue or Yellow I can more than likely put the Necchi back on there by making the decals for it.

I vote for the real deal Ferrari Red with Gold Necchi decals.

Billy[/quote]

Sounds wonderful. I know whatever it is with you painting, it will be beautiful!

This is a great source of information.Can anyone tell me how much would this machine cost? To buy or sell it.
Thanks

I have the same machine its superb good luck just put a 150 watts new generation motor 9000 rpm and this baby will sew just about everything, giid luck,

cheers
Mike

Your Canadian Singer
 

Hello Dunster
I have just acquired the Japanese counterpart to your machine(191U) but it did not come with a manual. Would kindly consider emailing me a copy of your scanned manual?
Also, do you happen to know the belt type for this machine as mine came with a rubber band folded over 4 times instead of a proper belt.
Thanks a million!
Kiku

Hi, I don't know if this post is still active but I would love it if you could email me the manual. My grand mother's sewing machine has been given to me and I don't know how to use it properly. It is a tan Singer 191J. My email is [email protected]. Thank you sooooo much!

That thing is a beast...never saw one before!

I am also wondering if this thread is alive (9 months later). I just recently bought a 191J with a cabinet and am looking for a manual to help with it. I purchased it to use in my garage as I got it for $20. I have read that it is a heavier duty machine so I am hoping thats true. If Dunster could PM me a copy that would be greatly appreciated. I will post a picture when I grab a couple.

Here are a couple of photos of my newly acquired 1954 191J.[ATTACH=CONFIG]438248[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]438249[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]438250[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]438251[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]438252[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]438253[/ATTACH]

Hello. Singer 191J

What I have is singer 191D service manual

I have been unable to find manual 191J. In fact it has been very difficult to find anything on it.

I c it in ebay 275 or so

I need 2 find the stitch indicator plate. I have looked all over the place 2 no avail.

Can we post pixs here?

Helenet, i ll b happy to share with you my manual, but is not instructions. Yet is the closest i have found

Lianys if you look at the dates this thread is several years old, some of these people aren't even members any more.

Cari

Lianys - Cari is right that this is an very old thread and highly unlikely that you will get a response from any of them.

Your 191D service manual is for the industrial 191D. There seem to be some similarities but the most striking would be the stitch length indicator that you are looking for.

There appears to be several other 191s as I have found references to the following with their country of manufacture.
191B France
191J Canada
191K Scotland
191M Italy
191R Mexico
191U Japan

If you go to Instruction Manuals | Singer Sewing and search for just "191" (without the quotation marks), there should be a manual for a 191K that you can download. It is a picture only instruction manual. I'm guessing since it was made in so many countries they made the manual so no matter what language the same one could be used. If you put "115" in the search box there is a manual that the machine body is shaped differently, but between the pictures of the 191 and the words of the 115 you should be able to use them for the 191J and other 191s. I'm not sure if there are written out instruction manuals to buy at http://www.tias.com/173/PictPage/1922802173.html and http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/ins...inger-191.aspx

According to http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...s-100-199.html the domestic 191s were made from 1957 to 1962.

Yes, pictures can be posted here as can be seen above your posts. There is a size limit. They load faster and are easier if they are approximately 600x800 pixels.

I just realized that the stitch length regulator on the 191R at ismacs is different from the others (rectangular rather than circular).

Something to remember about ebay is that asking price (Buy It Now) and what they actually sell (if they do sell) for are frequently different.

Hopefully this has been some help to you and others looking for information on the Singer 191.

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

You may post pics, but they need to be tiny. 640 pixels at the maximum.

Hi, ladies & gents
How can it be that when I move the clutch knob the machine moves all parts in the bottom and presser bar, etc, ye when I move the hand wheel i doesn’t? I can’t find what I’m don wrong. Appreciate ur help.

That is by design. It lets the hand wheel spin to wind a bobbin without moving and wearing all the other pieces. that 's why it is called a clutch.

If yours is set up correctly, holding the balance/Handwheel while turning the clutch knob clockwise should snug it all up and all should turn together.

I need the thread tension spring setup for my 191J, does anyone know where these can be purchased?

I think you are talking about the "check spring" and according to page 25 of https://www.supsew.com/wpfb-file/sin...1k1-k2-k3-pdf/ the part number would be 66774. I didn't find the 191 listed for as being a "guaranteed to fit" model, but it sure looks like the one that would be the right one.

If you are referring to the beehive spring, that part number would be 125314.

A lot of places to buy either part, but many will not list 191 as model that uses those numbers, but they are the numbers in the parts list.

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

Once again, no 100% guarantee but I think the tension assembly on the 191 is the same as on the 201 and 221 / 222...

Service Manual
 

Could you send me please that service manual, that's a model I have and need to repair.
Thanks in advance.

Welcome Gabrielfigueroa. Lianys has not been on since April of 2018. But my guess is that the manual she has can be found at https://www.manualslib.com/manual/52...oduct-191D%20- However, it appears to be an industrial machine rather than a domestic machine, like the opening poster's. Is yours an industrial machine?

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

This sounds so exciting! If that case it the original that in itself is a find. What makes me think it is is the mount for the pedal. I don't usually see that on replacement cases.

I have a 191J. My mother was the original owner, and I have the manual. I can certainly scan it and send it to you.

Oil Change
 

Hey i recently have come across a 191j and am planning on purchasing it to craft jeans. the machine looks taken care of but i’m not sure how i can do oil changes on this machine. i’m new to sewing. if anyone can help me out it would be appreciated

Oil change on a 191J
 

Congratulations on your upcoming purchase of 191J. That thing is a tank. It’s a wonderful machine and you’ll enjoy using it tremendously in my opinion. I own a 201 (1941) and 191J (late 50s). The 191J was my mother’s machine and I’m the second owner, but I have no clue as to the provenance of the 201 since it was purchased last year through FB Marketplace.

I’ve never “changed the oil” on any of my machines. I add sewing machine oil to the bobbin case every time I plan to sew for more than an hour, and I have the machine serviced once a year or so. If you consult the booklet your machine will come with, there should be a drawing with instructions informing you where you should add the sewing machine oil.

Good luck with your new purchase.

Thank you
 

Thanks a lot for the help. i’m quite new and wanted to create jeans. i’m hoping this can do some work.

manual for a 191J that I was gifted.
 

I am trying to find information about a Singer191J that was gifted to me. Can you help PLEASE