What do I have?
 

Can someone tell me where and when this machine was made, and exactly what machine this is? Just having a hard time figuring this out. The serial number is EG141561 the last 1 is smaller and more bolder that the others. Thanks

We know right off the bat it was made in '50 or '51 since it has the Centennial badge.

Darren

database says its a 15K does anyone know what the K means

The indicates it was made in Scotland. I can't get to my files to get the correct spelling so I'll just say that.

Nice machine by the way.

Joe

The indicates it was made in Scotland. I can't get to my files to get the correct spelling so I'll just say that.

Nice machine by the way.

Joe

K = Kilbowie, Scotland. Looks like a 15-90...did it come with a kneebar? Pretty machine with RAF (Royal Air Force) decals... :)

Yes did it come with a kneebar.

Yay! Those can be a bear to come by!

Now we need to know her story!! How did you get her, etc.! :)

She belonged to the Mother of a friend of mine, she could no longer see so therefore could not sew. My friend never learned to sew and had no desire to learn, thats where I came in.... I'm very interested in the info on these decals from the RAF what can you tell me about this.

Wow! What a beautiful machine! I have not seen those decals before, lucky you. I know you will enjoy her .

Wonder what she's worth...

I don't know what it is but it's mighty purdy. Whoever owned this machine sure took good care of it.

Yes, RAF decals are fairly common here. Have a look at my 1940 15K treadle on the video on Youtube.

Nice find Annie, as others have noted you've got a model 15 commissioned in 1950 or 1951, with the RAF decals, produced in Singer's Kilbowie plant in Scotland. The machine is interesting/unusual (at least to Americans) for the RAF decal set, uncommon over here; you'll also notice it has the floral-patterned faceplate, whereas a model 15 from the same era produced here in the 'States had the striated faceplate.

Because your machine has the belt-driven motor, it is easy to convert to treadle; you just pop it in a treadle cabinet, add a belt and you're good to go. You can't really do that, at least not easily, with the 15-91 because that has a different motor and handwheel set-up.

As for the sub-model, I do not believe that's a 15-90--I think it's actually a 15-96 or a 15-98, which were originally handcrank or treadle machines to begin with. I suspect your machine was converted to electric and had the motor added to it after the fact. The giveaway is the silver-knobbed stitch length lever. If your machine was a 15-88, 15-89 or 15-90 it would have a round stitch-length indicator plate and a flat silver lever, not the knobbed lever set-up on your machine. Does the motor say "Singer" on it, or is it a different brand?

As far as what it's worth, I'm sure you've heard this before: It's worth whatever you can get someone to pay for it. I've found no matter what machine you're buying or selling, you'll always find out afterwards that someone else paid half that and another person paid double.

Sew beautiful!!! Wonderful!

Rain - If it had originally been a hand machine then it would have a spoked wheel, whereas this wheel is solid - unless of course they changed the wheel.

Thank you so much for all the info. The motor is a Singer. I paid $150...I think it was a good deal.

Your machines are beautiful!!!

Heres the back... much prettier in person

I have one also, but haven't found much about it other than the nickname of RAF for the decals. Looks like lightening or electrical radio symbols on the trim.

Is there any chance that you could post a photo taken from the left end of the machine of the bobbin case while it’s latched into position? It might help in the identification of the machine.

CD in Oklahoma

Very strange, it has the old-school "Singerlight" on it from the 1930s, odd since it's a Centennial (1950 or '51). I suppose it could have been added after the fact. Muv, if you're reading this, do you happen to know if Kilbowie-produced machines used the older light fixture into the '50s?

Here are a few more pics... I'm enjoying all these comments!!!

Even stranger! Now I see it has the unmarked tension dial. That, the faceplate, the stitch length lever and the Singerlight all say 1930s, but the machine's a Centennial. Very curious.

I'm so used to cleaning machines that as soon as I saw the photo of the bobbin case, with the lint cloud above it, it made me want to grab my vacuum cleaner with the micro nozzle attachment.

Good point, Muv. I cannot reconcile the stitch length lever and some other things about the machine with the Centennial dating; I assume it's because I'm used to seeing Singers that came out of Elizabethport, and perhaps Kilbowie-produced, UK-market machines had different configurations.

Possibly because of the halt in production during WWII they had a bunch of older parts left and decided to use them up. Stranger things have happened in the history of sewing machine manufacturing!! LOL

I LOVE those RAF decals....you have a very unique and beautiful sewing machine. I certainly am very envious of it....you did good!!

Another pretty little workhorse.... Nice!

It has the markings of a Singer 15K80...
But it’s the first Centennial 15K80 that I’ve ever seen.

CD in Oklahoma

Rain - I've slipped up. My 15K treadle is 1945 not 1940 (I have another Singer machine that is 1940) and it has the same stitch length knob, so I'm not surprised to see that a machine from only five years later has the same knob.

Thayer - My bobbin is like the 15K80 shown above.

Jljack - Kilbowie did not switch over to arms during the war but carried on with sewing machines. Some models had plain or black faceplates during the war.

Rain - Sorry, I haven't a clue about lights. Just hand machines and treadles here. Electricity is too modern for me.

Thanks Muv. I think I’m going to have to call it a Singer Centennial 15K80, just from what I can see. I still think that it’s unusual to see all of the earmarks of a 1930s machine on a 1950s machine. The thing that sells it for me as a 1950s machine is the serial number. It doesn’t look to be altered. Several of the other items could be swapped out on an old machine, but surely not the serial number.

If the factory was using up old parts and decals, I’d think that it would be unusual for a machine to get so many 1930 parts on the same frame, when there would surely have been other newer parts lying around to be used up as well, especially the upper tension assembly.

If it’s a “special” machine that someone has put together (outside of the factory) to throw everyone off, they went to a lot of work to make it look “right”.

FWIW - The sample photos of the bobbin cases on my machines are dated as follows:
1913 Singer 15-30
1930 Singer 15K80
1941 Singer 15-88
1935 Singer 15-90

CD in Oklahoma

Another thing that may be worth mentioning is that along with the changes in the bobbin assembly, Singer also changed the face plates to facilitate a change in needle threading. The 15K80 has the face plate thread guide close to the center of the plate for left-to-right needle threading, while the 15-88 has the face plate thread guide on the far right for right-to-left needle threading.

CD in Oklahoma

What a great looking one, the decals are so nice and bright. You are very lucky to have it so enjoy it.

I just want to thank all of you for your comments and help...I'm already enjoying this wonderful machine she sews like a dream. Now to name her and find a spot in my sewing room...I think I need a bigger sewing room, but that would mean a bigger house, more housework less sewing...Ill find a spot....Thank you all...

Thayer -

I'm not sure I agree. I think it started out as a hand machine and someone has put on the motor, solid wheel and light later on. If it made its way from this country and arrived in the States as a hand machine then I can imagine it being converted to electric in a trice using parts that were in a sewing machine repair workshop. A repairman probably wouldn't want to leave on a spoked wheel in case he got blamed for anyone breaking their fingers in the spokes by accident when the motor was running.

That's my theory, anyway.

Sew Annie - any idea about the history of this machine. Can you uncover a sweet story about a GI bride?

a very nice machine for sure. fun to learn all the info as well!

It's very interesting to read everyone's comments. :thumbup: It really is a lovely machine, I love the decals.

I've been enjoying this post even though my only old machine is a white 1960's Featherweight. Amazing the amount of history one little sewing machine could have. May in Jersey

beautiful machine.....