Should I Buy This?
07-19-2013, 02:21 AM
#22
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Cabin at the lake.. on my way to Brunswick as soon as the house is complete
Posts: 144
Originally Posted by Sheluma
Oh my! That 15 has an unusual shape, let alone color. I want one!
It was advertised as a 185-15, bought it off craigslist. I asked the guy about it, he said that he knew nothing about it had picked it up at a garage sale and found a green one on ebay so he thought it was a 185 then saw the 15 on the machine and came up with a 185-15!!! See how that works? LOL I bought it because of the color mostly, I will get it cleaned up and use it soon.
07-19-2013, 03:24 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Not Here
Posts: 3,817
LOL! I like his reasoning.... but it's not a 185-15. 
It's a very uncommon model 15. http://sewing-machines.blogspot.ca/2...en-singer.html
A Singer 15-125. Care and feeding should be the same as the 15-91, if you don't have an original manual.
It's a beautiful specimen!
A clone is by definition -not- a Singer.
How the clones came about (I can't remember where I read this, if someone can point me there again I'd be darn grateful!)
After the second world war, Singer "gave" the design and rights to build the model 15 to the Japanese to help them rebuild their economy. Before long, a flood of Japanese machines (with typical Japanese precision build) were hitting the market, some looking identical to the Singers, some evolving to take on their own shapes and looks.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...p-t164361.html
It's a very uncommon model 15. http://sewing-machines.blogspot.ca/2...en-singer.html
A Singer 15-125. Care and feeding should be the same as the 15-91, if you don't have an original manual.
It's a beautiful specimen!
A clone is by definition -not- a Singer.
How the clones came about (I can't remember where I read this, if someone can point me there again I'd be darn grateful!)
After the second world war, Singer "gave" the design and rights to build the model 15 to the Japanese to help them rebuild their economy. Before long, a flood of Japanese machines (with typical Japanese precision build) were hitting the market, some looking identical to the Singers, some evolving to take on their own shapes and looks.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...p-t164361.html
07-19-2013, 04:48 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 476
That's funny. If I had seen 185-15 in the title on CL I might have assumed it was an industrial and not even looked at the ad. (I'm not up on the industrial model numbers.)
Before the war Japanese goods were considered inferior, and I wonder if Singer thought there wouldn't be much competition with those machines.
Before the war Japanese goods were considered inferior, and I wonder if Singer thought there wouldn't be much competition with those machines.
07-19-2013, 08:02 AM
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Not Here
Posts: 3,817
I wouldn't be surprised if that was their thinking. After all, at some point prior to the war, they had something like 80+% market share, why would the Japanese offer them competition?
I would probably have clicked on it to be snoopy, that's it... depending on price.
Machines after somewhere in the mid-50s usually have something on them that will say their model number. In the case of this machine it's a 15-. They won't usually say the submodel if there is one, like 15-90, 15-91, 15-125 etc, that part comes with research and experience. But, the badge is always to be trusted as far as the model, unless someone changed it, but I can't see a reason to. At some point (late 50 early 60s) they moved the label to the stitch selector on some machines, like the 401A, 503J, etc.
I would probably have clicked on it to be snoopy, that's it... depending on price.
Machines after somewhere in the mid-50s usually have something on them that will say their model number. In the case of this machine it's a 15-. They won't usually say the submodel if there is one, like 15-90, 15-91, 15-125 etc, that part comes with research and experience. But, the badge is always to be trusted as far as the model, unless someone changed it, but I can't see a reason to. At some point (late 50 early 60s) they moved the label to the stitch selector on some machines, like the 401A, 503J, etc.
Last edited by ArchaicArcane; 07-19-2013 at 08:05 AM. Reason: Ugh,.. I can't type - 80+% market share, not 90%
07-21-2013, 12:08 AM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Merritt Island, FL
Posts: 672
I just purchased a 6 or 7 decorated drawer cabinet and 27 pheasant machine with reasonably good decals and a full puzzle box for $25. It will need Glen's restoration and cleaning techniques but seems otherwise sound. I will get a new belt for it but it has the shuttle, a bobbin or 2 and original manual. I think that if you haven't already purchased the machine that you may want to wait until a less expensive one comes along.
Originally Posted by brunswickgirl
Attached are pics of a Model 27-4 dated 1905.
it has been in the same family all this time and in a climate controlled environment. She is asking $300 for the machine and cabinet. I think that that is a little high was thinking of offering $150.00, it is a local pick up do no shipping charges.
I am asking for your advise because I am fairly new to collecting, have only bought 7 since March!!! Everytime my hubby leaves town, now that I am mostly retired, I go out to estate sales, have been having a Blast.
Anyway what do you think? I am really struggling with this because I have been looking for this machine for about a year and this is the best looking one I have found for the age. It is one that I plan to keep and use and it is the same model I learned to sew on, so I have some emotion involved that may be clouding my reality.
Thank you in advance for any input.
it has been in the same family all this time and in a climate controlled environment. She is asking $300 for the machine and cabinet. I think that that is a little high was thinking of offering $150.00, it is a local pick up do no shipping charges.
I am asking for your advise because I am fairly new to collecting, have only bought 7 since March!!! Everytime my hubby leaves town, now that I am mostly retired, I go out to estate sales, have been having a Blast.
Anyway what do you think? I am really struggling with this because I have been looking for this machine for about a year and this is the best looking one I have found for the age. It is one that I plan to keep and use and it is the same model I learned to sew on, so I have some emotion involved that may be clouding my reality.
Thank you in advance for any input.
07-21-2013, 04:02 AM
#30
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Cabin at the lake.. on my way to Brunswick as soon as the house is complete
Posts: 144
Originally Posted by blueheavenfla
I just purchased a 6 or 7 decorated drawer cabinet and 27 pheasant machine with reasonably good decals and a full puzzle box for $25. It will need Glen's restoration and cleaning techniques but seems otherwise sound. I will get a new belt for it but it has the shuttle, a bobbin or 2 and original manual. I think that if you haven't already purchased the machine that you may want to wait until a less expensive one comes along.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sewingsuz
Main
7
01-28-2013 08:29 PM
Geri B
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
27
11-17-2012 05:15 AM
