Singer 15-91

[Legendary Leathercrafts]

I'm looking at a Singer 15-91. Does anyone have any experience with one on leather? The thickest I'd likely need to sew is two pieces of 6oz veg tan. Happy for any feedback regarding one of these machines.

Thank you,

Mike

Edited March 20, 2015 by Legendary Leathercrafts

[Wizcrafts]

Mine maxed out at actually sewing about 8 ounces, with #69 bonded thread, using a #16 or 18 leather point needle. Anything thicker either stood still from the increased drag on the top, or lifted with the needle and skipped stitches.

[Ole South]

Yeah, what The Wiz said!

But don't stop looking for one. It's one of the most robust and versatile of the home straight stitchers. You'll max out at about 6 1/2 sti and anything heavier than 4oz is gonna lift the pressure foot unless you use a huge diameter needle (book says it'll take up to a 21 needle but 18 is the largest I've found) and forget anything heavier than 69 thread but all that said, it's one of the cheapest ways to get started sewing suede and light upholstery leathers. If you get one that runs well(most do with very little work) keep it!!! It's a great "goto" for any heavy fabric work you might need. Parts are cheap and easy to come by for now. You can learn a lot on one of these machines even with its limitations.

Singer commercial machines are done for and I hear the home machines are next but these have survived 50+ years and will serve you well for a long time to come (unlike the home machines they've sold for the last 20).

[Legendary Leathercrafts]

Thank you both for the imput. I can sntach one up for about $150, do you think that sounds reasonable? They claim it is in perfect working condition.

[amuckart]

If you want a good straight-stitch only domestic sewing machine for lightweight stuff the 201k is a much better bet than the 15k. The 201 is fully rotary and geared throughout, so it is both smoother and more robust than the 15k which is an oscillating hook machine.

The 201 has a higher and wider clearance than the 15k too.

Neither, though, are designed for sewing leather but if you're doing really lightweight stuff then you can put a teflon foot on them which will help the feeding. It won't help with the foot pressure though.

[Ole South]

Side by side, I've found the 201-2 much pickier about thread and less able to handle as wide a variety of heavier material. The 201-2 has hands-down the best stitch of the old Singers. Same motor different power trains. It was the "Tailor's Standard" of home machines. The 15-91 was known as the "Farmer's Wife" of home machines due to its versatility and ruggedness. I've had both, sold the 201,still own and use the 15-91 for those reasons.

But to speak to the question: $150 for either machine in working order with a case or in a console is reasonable. You are more likely to find a good 15-91 at that price (or cheaper) for the very reason Al has mentioned. You don't NEED a console or case for either of these machines to sew on them (tho on certain few 15-91's you may need to shim the back of the casting's "feet" with a piece of leather or thick rubber on a benchtop) but getting one helps. A lot of tailors and seamstress' built their businesses on the 201.

I've had both in my shop at the same time, were I sewing fabric, I chose the 201; leather or suede the 15-91 gave me better and more consistent results. These are "low shank" presser foot machines. A Teflon or roller foot might help in a marginal case but neither will make either into a walking foot machine. Nor will the Singer "Walking foot/Pattern Matcher" accessory you can still find.

Edited March 21, 2015 by Ole South

[Legendary Leathercrafts]

Thank you again, I appreciate the knowledge. I'll take a look at it then and go from there!

[Ole South]

Are you looking at the one in Dartmouth or East Hampton? Don't see any 201-2's for sale in your area but there is a 17-23 you might talk the price down on. And I see what may be a 16-88/188 in Woburn. Both appear to have tables and motors.

[Legendary Leathercrafts]

I was looking at both, but Dartmouth is closer to me so I was going to check that one out first. I have a 29-4 but it is not running right now. The previous owner let it sit out in a garage and it got all gunked up inside. I mention that because it is similar to the 17-23. Maybe I should just get that repaired rather than buy a new machine.

[Ole South]

The -91 and your 29 (or a 17) could buttress a shop. Why not clean the cobwebs out of the 29, get a can of WD40 or PB Blaster and without a major disassembly clean up the gunk and surface rust, get it turning and see if it'll sew. I think the 17 comes closer to what you want to do than the 29 but people still want the old patchers. Turn it for seed money. You can get a -91 to "learn & earn" on for now. Check out this post: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=21807 . It gives you an idea what you have and you're up against with the 29.

Be ready to change the motor brushes out if you get a -91. Both the -91's appear to be circa 1950's (striped chrome plates). You may not need any immediate rewiring of electrical to use. Dartmouth has all her decals, could indicate light use over her lifetime. Actually they both look in good to great condition. You should be able to pick either of them up for $100-135.

Luck

Edited March 21, 2015 by Ole South