New (old) Singer machine.

[Freddy261]

Hello folks,

I'm a newbie to leather work and have made a handful of hand-stitched items.  However, I quite fancied machine sewing.

I have recently bought an old Singer; I think it is a 15k, but I'm not sure which variant or whether it is suitable for leather. I won't be sewing anything heavy yet, just up to 2mm leather - probably chrome tanned.

Do you know how to find the version of the machine I have?

Many thanks!

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by Freddy261
Text update

[AlZilla]

Well, the first half of 1907, anyway. No indication of the subclass. 

https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-s-series-serial-numbers.html

Doesn't really matter anyway. That machine should do 2mm garment leather, unless you get into too many layers. Get leather needles. Your thread will probably top out at v69.

Lube it well and listen to it. If it sounds like it's hammering, you're overtaxing it.

[Freddy261]

3 hours ago, AlZilla said:

Well, the first half of 1907, anyway. No indication of the subclass. 

https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-s-series-serial-numbers.html

Doesn't really matter anyway. That machine should do 2mm garment leather, unless you get into too many layers. Get leather needles. Your thread will probably top out at v69.

Lube it well and listen to it. If it sounds like it's hammering, you're overtaxing it.

Thank you. Leather needles are on order.

[fredk]

Whilst I found that my 15K would put a #16 needle through 1.5 -2mm upholstery grade chrome tan it could not advance it. I had to get a 'roller' foot attachment

[Wizcrafts]

The 15 class machines are bottom fed only. The presser foot's job is to hold down the material as the needle ascends. The feed dogs come up from the bottom and push the material backwards; away from you. If the material is heavy, as is leather, the feed dog teeth might slip due to the pressure exerted on top by the presser foot. This causes the stitch length to vary, or be unpredictable. You might thing that you'll just back off the pressure screw on top to make it easier to feed the leather. That might help to a certain point, which is reached when the leather starts lifting with the ascending needle. This causes skipped stitches, and, possibly, even a broken or bent needle.

In order to overcome the feeding problems of bottom fed machines, some people equip their sewing machines with roller feet. and a matching inline feed dog and throat plate.

All of this will be moot if the tiny motor is unable to power the machine as it tries to penetrate and feed the leather. It was this problem that led to the development of the class 15 industrial swing machines. These machines came out in the early 20th Century. The Singer 31-15 was popular with tailor shops, alterationists, costume makers, and garment factories..

If you bought this domestic machine with the intention of sewing leather, I recommend that you read my pinned topic about the type of sewing machine you need to sew leather.