I Just Bought Out Singer :-)

[DoubleC]

I also have a Singer 15-91, in very good condition. I rebuilt the motor and replaced the drive gear. Most recently I added a solid state control pedal, which I got from Bob Kovar.

The machine does sew with #69 bonded nylon thread, up to 1/4 inch. But, it has trouble feeding sticky material. I bought a so-called walking foot attachment, but it only made a marginal improvement, while losing at least 1/16" of available clearance under the foot. I believe that a Teflon foot would be more useful and wouldn't reduce the sewing clearance.

After rebuilding it I packed it in its case and there is has sat, since 2009. I have already invested $160 between buying and rebuilding it. I consider it a waste of money compared to my industrial sewing machines, which have big industrial motors. Still, I could use it to sew wallet interiors or put in a new zipper in a jacket, or to hem pants.

I just saw this, sorry. I am refurbishing this one, but it doesn't need a new motor, runs like a clock. But I'm glad I grounded myself before I tried that considering the shape the wiring was in simply from age. But total I have $72.00 in the machine, cabinet and stuff I ordered for it so I don't think I'll consider it a waste of money. And the only way I'm going to get up to 1/4th of leather would be if I happen to flip something and sew across to hold a buckle or something. You told me about the Teflon foot for my 185J and I still have that saved in my watch list on eBay so if I see this might need something extra, I'll get one.

I don't usually sew 'sticky stuff?' It's in great shape for it's age, someone took very good care of the MACHINE. There isn't a millimeter of decal loss that I can find, and like I said, everything was easy to take apart because of it being so well oiled and greased. The cabinet? I don't think they gave a hoot about, but neither do I really as long as it holds the machine. Well actually the cabinet doesn't have any veneer loss which is always the first thing to go, just bumps and nicks you'd expect from something made in the 30s. And it needs a good cleaning.

On my income you wouldn't consider one run by squirrels a waste of money :-) Cheryl

[Wizcrafts]

I wasn't dissing your machine or choices. I was simply stating my own opinion about my 15-91 and the money I poured into fixing it up for naught. Many people are making good money refurbishing old iron Singer machines and collectors love them.

[DoubleC]

I wasn't dissing your machine or choices. I was simply stating my own opinion about my 15-91 and the money I poured into fixing it up for naught. Many people are making good money refurbishing old iron Singer machines and collectors love them.

LOL, Wiz I didn't think you were. No worries, ok? Cheryl

[Jimbob]

LOL, Wiz I didn't think you were. No worries, ok? Cheryl

And Heck, who cares if it does 1/4 inch or a bit less...does it do wallets or even a belt??...just use it and love it....look at the beautiful form and style, nickel plated parts....eyeball the wonderful metal and artistic paint and assure yourself that you own a bit of American Industrial history...right there in fron of your eyes...and yes, it is still able to sew...after soooooo many years of possible hard labor!!

Kind of opening unkle Bill's long locked up barn door and discovering a dusty, covered up with hey bales ladden 1944 Flathead, all original parts and when u digg it out there, brush the dust off and whipe it down with a bit of oil,,,,you set the kicker, realize it has compression....quick new plugs, check oil and a bit of gas...a kick, another kick,,,and one more....><><><>

She's alive...she is realy alive.....ohhh my,...........I got carried away..sorry...but ya all get the pint...hehee....

Greetings

james

[Sylvia]

She's alive...she is realy alive.....ohhh my,...........I got carried away..sorry...but ya all get the pint...hehee....

james

LOL I've had dreams like that before believe it or not.

[DoubleC]

And Heck, who cares if it does 1/4 inch or a bit less...does it do wallets or even a belt??...just use it and love it....look at the beautiful form and style, nickel plated parts....eyeball the wonderful metal and artistic paint and assure yourself that you own a bit of American Industrial history...right there in fron of your eyes...and yes, it is still able to sew...after soooooo many years of possible hard labor!!

Kind of opening unkle Bill's long locked up barn door and discovering a dusty, covered up with hey bales ladden 1944 Flathead, all original parts and when u digg it out there, brush the dust off and whipe it down with a bit of oil,,,,you set the kicker, realize it has compression....quick new plugs, check oil and a bit of gas...a kick, another kick,,,and one more....><><><>

She's alive...she is realy alive.....ohhh my,...........I got carried away..sorry...but ya all get the pint...hehee....

Greetings

james

You must own the two that got away from me James :-) But you're right. I'm keeping the 1887 Sphinx treadle 27 I call Rusty because I spent two days prying those parts off, and cleaning them and putting them back together. And just turning the hand wheel and watching it move smooth as silk now makes me feel like I accomplished something important. I put the bullet bobbin holder in the shuttle, and just used the hand wheel to check it, don't have it in the treadle yet, and when the needle went down and caught the thread from the bobbin it was surely a sight to behold. I bought it for $19.99 (won't go into what all the treadle parts cost, LOL) being sold for parts. It is not a bunch of parts, it's a sewing machine that's served people for over 100 years. A little Turtle Wax and what a thing of beauty it is now.

The 15-91? All naked right now, parts strewn all over while I wait on new grease, etc. to get here; oily, grimy, faceless and nameless so far until I get everything cleaned, polished, and put back together so it can run like it did in 1938. Not all decorative like it's big brother the Sphinx but shorter, squat, shoulder to the grindstone kind of little workhorse.

Keeping the Sphinx is ego I think and I may sell it someday. But all I have ever owned was the 185J and was afraid to use it, much less take it apart. But I did this one, and like an idiot didn't even label the parts, and when it all went back together I had a spring left over :-) I looked at 50 machines online at least until I realized it was the spring for the bobbin winder. I'm not afraid of it, I know it inside and out, as I will the 15-91 when I'm through cleaning, rewiring and putting it back together.

Sorry I got a little carried away too, but you get the pint too. Cheryl

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

I love old Iron!

Often I get questions from people who have never used a sewing machine and want to learn so I will send them off to find a 15 or 201 to learn the basics. These are obviously not true leather machines but we all need to start somewhere so before they spend $2- 3k I want them to get a feel for basic sewing and learn how and why a machine works. If they decide that machine sewing is for them, then we talk about spending serious money.

[DoubleC]

I love old Iron!

Often I get questions from people who have never used a sewing machine and want to learn so I will send them off to find a 15 or 201 to learn the basics. These are obviously not true leather machines but we all need to start somewhere so before they spend $2- 3k I want them to get a feel for basic sewing and learn how and why a machine works. If they decide that machine sewing is for them, then we talk about spending serious money.

Hi Bonnie. I'm completely refurbishing the 15 so I am sure not going to be afraid of it when I get done, which I was my 185J. It needs all new wiring which I've begun on and you know how icky the 15-91s get with that potted motor on it and grease. I should take some pictures of it today so I can show what it looks like when I'm done because now the poor child is a greasy dull mess :-) I just ordered some self-amalgamating tape to use in the motor because the wires are fine, and the connectors good but the insulation had disintegrated (too nice a word, LOL) from age. It appears my armature screws are stripped or at the very least frozen beyond WD-40s ability to remove them so when I heard about the tape today I ordered it pronto. I can't believe when I plugged this in and turned it on, it took off like it was new. I was never into motors before, and can't say I still like getting greasy but I'm having fun with this and it's the one I'm going to keep. I have someone locally who is going to teach me to actually sew since I bought out Singer :-)

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Errr, Darren is the name . Anne Bonny is just the Pirate we named the business after (you need to be an Adam Ant fan to appreciate this).

Best option is to actually replace the wiring rather than use the self amalgamating tape.

The 15 is probably the best machine to play with as it is an oscillating shuttle. When it comes down to basics the 441 clones work exactly the same way so you will have a bloody good idea of the operating principals.

BTW I may have full Phoenix decals available soon!

Hi Bonnie. I'm completely refurbishing the 15 so I am sure not going to be afraid of it when I get done, which I was my 185J. It needs all new wiring which I've begun on and you know how icky the 15-91s get with that potted motor on it and grease. I should take some pictures of it today so I can show what it looks like when I'm done because now the poor child is a greasy dull mess :-) I just ordered some self-amalgamating tape to use in the motor because the wires are fine, and the connectors good but the insulation had disintegrated (too nice a word, LOL) from age. It appears my armature screws are stripped or at the very least frozen beyond WD-40s ability to remove them so when I heard about the tape today I ordered it pronto. I can't believe when I plugged this in and turned it on, it took off like it was new. I was never into motors before, and can't say I still like getting greasy but I'm having fun with this and it's the one I'm going to keep. I have someone locally who is going to teach me to actually sew since I bought out Singer :-)

[DoubleC]

Errr, Darren is the name . Anne Bonny is just the Pirate we named the business after (you need to be an Adam Ant fan to appreciate this).

Best option is to actually replace the wiring rather than use the self amalgamating tape.

The 15 is probably the best machine to play with as it is an oscillating shuttle. When it comes down to basics the 441 clones work exactly the same way so you will have a bloody good idea of the operating principals.

BTW I may have full Phoenix decals available soon!

Well good grief Darren you should sign your name if you don't want to be called other things (yet even when I sign my name, at times I get called other things.:-) OK, I will replace the wiring, got heavy duty wire for it and the light, but I'm splicing the connectors on with the tape. I am not going to learn to solder at my age on top of everything else !!! Do you mean Sphinx? I'm not familiar with a Phoenix decal but if you get them I'd love to have them, or know where they came from. A phoenix would be too cool.