Singer 111W1555 Serial Number Year Id

[teched]

Hello folks! Well after months of searching and researching I finaly found a 111w155 complete about 3 hours from my house. $250.00 later and it was mine. It came with some info that tends to make me want to believe its around a 1963, but would like to know for sure. The serial number is PB 1508042. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks -Ed

[dikman]

Teched, it's extremely difficult to date W series machines (made at Bridgeport, USA) because there doesn't appear to be any surviving records for them. If you can download a manual, and it has a print date, then that's probably about the best you can do.

Just enjoy it, knowing that you have a lovely old Singer.

Edited January 24, 2016 by dikman

[teched]

I heard all the records were lost in a fire. Were all the "w" machines made in Bridgeport? I have a letter from Singer addres to the original owner dated 1963. It was in response to the PO wanting a quote. Singer wrote that a 111w155 would be good for him and could be purchase delivered and set up for $516.65 I believe that this letter is referencing my machine that he eventually purchased. Just thought I could get the actual year of production. You are right I love the machine and will continue no matter what year it is. Thanks

[cdthayer]

Most of the serial numbers beginning with PB were issued to machines coming out of the Karlsruhe Germany factory in the late 50s and early 60s. Most of those numbers that I’ve seen only have 6 numbers following the PB (PBxxxxxx), while yours has 7. I also think that most of those similar PB machines were 111G models, instead of 111W. It’s interesting that you have a PB machine that has a 111W155 tag as well.

I have machine number PB157568, a Singer 111G156, that I have dated to 1959. I’m not sure how accurate my dating might be.

CD in Oklahoma

Edited January 25, 2016 by cdthayer

[teched]

Singer Letter.pdfThanks, I received an original Instruction manual, parts book and a letter from the Previous owner. He is a good friend of the original purchaser who's company this letter is addressed. The PO believes that the machine was purchased soon after the letter was written and therefore the machine is close to this date. It is interesting about the German production. I attached a PDF of the letter I have. When did the Bridgeport Factory burn?

[Uwe]

1960's must have been towards the end of the production run for the 111x155 series in some factories. There are apparently some hybrid or mix&match Singers out there, too. Singer perhaps consolidated parts stock from factories that closed or changed production lines around the world to be use in the remaining factories for the 111, like shipping leftover flatbed parts form the Karlsruhe, Germany factory with a PB serial number to the US and then mated it to 111W155 heads in Bridgeport.

Accounting for inflation, that $515 cost for the Singer in 1963 is just under $4,000 in today's money. That was and still is a good chunk of money for a sewing machine, so the $250 used price is a bargain.

That is a HUGE motor on that machine!

[Constabulary]

@ teched

if you don´t mind can you make a PDF file from your original manual and parts list? Documentation for these machines are available but quality is quite poor most of the time. I think a lot of folks would be really grateful.

My 111G156 has a W prefix serial number so the housing was made in Bridgeport but machine was assembled in Karlsruhe, Germany.

The badge on your machine makes it a 1960´s made machine though AFAIK the 211 predecessor were made in the 1950´s already.

With some luck I can pick up a 212 (double needle) tomorrow and if I´m right it has a 1950´s type Singer badge. So Uwe´s theory could be correct I think.

[dikman]

I'm always learning something new. What Uwe said makes sense, considering that Singer back then was a world-wide conglomerate. It probably made perfect sense to ship parts every which way just to make up machines. The fact that there were different metal threads used by different countries on their nuts and bolts could make such machines "interesting"!

I noticed that motor too. My 51W59 came with an original Singer motor, which is big but doesn't appear to be as large as this one! Teched, any chance you could post a couple of photos of the motor?

[Gump]

dikman; I have the same motor on a 111, and it is 1/2 hp @ 3450 rpm. It takes 10 mins. to stop turning after turning it off and can't be stalled when sewing.

[Uwe]

This is also the first time I've seen one of those lube pots on top of an actual 111W155 machine. They seemed like mystical devices that only existed in parts diagrams.