I Just Bought Out Singer :-)

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

My apologies, yes Phynx. A red wine or two may be slowing me down. Check my signature young lady

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.

[DoubleC]

My apologies, yes Phynx. A red wine or two may be slowing me down. Check my signature young lady

Oh I'm so sorry Darren, maybe I NEED a red wine or two, LOL. May I ask where you got the decals? All I ever see are the Featherweights

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

If I told you I would have to kill you afterwards. Trade secret.

Oh I'm so sorry Darren, maybe I NEED a red wine or two, LOL. May I ask where you got the decals? All I ever see are the Featherweights

[DoubleC]

If I told you I would have to kill you afterwards. Trade secret.

Just what trade are you in Bonnie Boy :-) That's ok because I have a THIRD Sphinx that I was going to list for parts that has almost perfect original decals, but found out today a friend can drill out where the faceplate got sheared off so I'll just love it and feed it and take it for walks.

[DoubleC]

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I started this thread. I sold all but the 15-91 and just got it put back together today after a complete overhaul. New wiring, cleaned inside and out, new oil and grease, and when I hooked everything up I didn't get a Bride of Frankenstein 'do' and that made me really happy. We had a few burps and balks starting out while the grease got distributed and I got all the tensions set right. According to the manual once I did it would work for about any material with only changing the tension of the foot. Manual was right, I've sewn chintz, cotton, suede and leather with it tonight using a regular (size 80, not my 100s) needle and quilting thread. Right now with the machine, shipping and supplies and shipping I have around $100.00 in it, and check out what I finally worked up the nerve to try. Now if I can just learn to sew :-) I'm not bragging honestly, I'm just so happy to have a machine I could afford that will handle what I throw at it. For someone that can't afford a $2000.00 machine yet, I would recommend this to anyone. The thing that's the hardest for me right now is using the pedal because this has automatic feed, I mean WAY auto and he doesn't take directions from anybody and doesn't want help feeding the material so I'm 2 feet past where I want to guide it a little different before I remember to take my foot off the pedal. That's why I played with one of my conchos so I had to stop, turn the concho, start, etc. I don't have any idea about these four layers people always show sewing on these when they're trying to sell one. I can't think why I'd WANT to sew four layers, would hope I eventually can get it right in ONE but it will sew regular veg tanned leather although I picked pieces that weren't too thick to play around with it. From the sellers I've met and talked to on eBay I think these are easy to pick up still at garage and yard sales.

[Wizcrafts]

My Singer 15-91 sews about the same as yours does on leather. It is okay up to about 1/8 to 3/16 inch, then it gets very hard to penetrate additional layers or feed them without dragging down the stitch length. It only uses thin #69 thread (11 pound test). I did try to use a #20 needle and #138 thread in mine and almost blew up the motor.

You can buy a solid state control pedal that will give you much better control of the motor. I got mine from Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines. I had to wire it up, but from what I read from you, wiring a pedal won't be a problem.

BTW: I bought my 15-91 from a local Salvation Army store for $75.00 plus tax. I now have about $175 in it, after buying replacement parts, an even-feed foot and the solid state pedal.

[DoubleC]

My Singer 15-91 sews about the same as yours does on leather. It is okay up to about 1/8 to 3/16 inch, then it gets very hard to penetrate additional layers or feed them without dragging down the stitch length. It only uses thin #69 thread (11 pound test). I did try to use a #20 needle and #138 thread in mine and almost blew up the motor.

You can buy a solid state control pedal that will give you much better control of the motor. I got mine from Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines. I had to wire it up, but from what I read from you, wiring a pedal won't be a problem.

BTW: I bought my 15-91 from a local Salvation Army store for $75.00 plus tax. I now have about $175 in it, after buying replacement parts, an even-feed foot and the solid state pedal.

I know Wiz, you mentioned what you had in it. Why don't you sell it hon since you don't use it? You could that price any day of the week out of it. I'd line every wall in my house with them if I could :-) Once I got the tension right I was able to go from material to material with an 80 needle and quilting thread. OK, I didn't do this earlier because I thought, oh Cheryl who cares, but I have to show you before and after pics if you'll indulge me. I'll talk to Bob about the foot (nice job on his website, now put an order form of some sort on there please?)

[Wizcrafts]

Cheryl;

I guess I like the little bugger, especially after all the time I put into rebuilding the motor and associated gears. It will still make a nice on-location machine for hemming things, or repairing dress belts on location (flea markets, bike shows, etc). It is in a carrying case, not a table.

Now I understand the speed problem you have. That old pushbutton foot pedal is not easily controlled, especially when it is so old. The pot pedal that came with mine finally lost its slow speeds and I had to replace it. Wish I'd done that sooner.

[DoubleC]

I have one I'm sitting here looking at an electronic one that I got from sew-classic with other parts that I didn't use, ended up putting my old one back on. I told her I was returning this one. I think I will for sure now and get one of Bob's. Yeah the one button foot controllers are hard to use, especially since I know 10 times more about the machines than I do sewing :-)

I guess I like the little bugger, especially after all the time I put into rebuilding the motor and associated gears.

I recently started a Singer (or sewing machine) anonymous :-) SMA...there's three of us so far, another one here and a girl in California who bought two of my machines, wanna join? You acted last time like you just as soon kick yours to the curb as look at it, but you didn't fool me. I've seen you have different machines for sale on here, but not that one since I've been a member. You can admit it, the minute you touch one of these black iron and usually tons of rust Singers, and cussing bring it back to usefulness you're addicted :-) Seriously it is hard Wiz because you realize you just gave usefulness for another 100 years to something that was headed to a scrap heap. Try that with one of these plastic things that pass for sewing machines these days. The 15-91 is inelegant, short, squat, plain decals, and usually has chips and clear coat loss because they WERE used so much. They remind me of Halflingers next to a beautiful black Percheron. Anyone can BUY a machine, bringing it back from near extinction feels totally different!

[Wizcrafts]

.... You can admit it, the minute you touch one of these black iron and usually tons of rust Singers, and cussing bring it back to usefulness you're addicted :-)

Ya got me figured out Pilgrim. I admit being addicted to old sewing machines.