These machines are addictive

[Snakeoil]

Well, I've not been here in a while. Got my patcher sorted out and have not had any projects for it in a while. My wife and I were taking back roads on our way to dinner tonight and there was a Singer in a cabinet by the side of the road. Tossed it in the back of the SUV and carried on to dinner. Got back unloaded it into the shed and plugged it in. Runs perfectly and is dead quiet. A quick look inside shows it was hardly used. It's a Mod 15 and was made in Nov 1953. Cabinet is in excellent shape except for some minor finish issues. Only thing I can see that is missing on my first look is the top thread spool pin. Imagine they are available. I can always machine one if I necessary. 

I imagine these are pretty heavy duty machines. Feed teeth look like new. Might make a nice light leather/canvas/nylon strap machine. Will certainly sew a straight seam better than that damn patcher.

regards,

Rob

[dikman]

Addictive? Yep, it can become a bit of an obsession if you're not careful. I was always on the lookout for older (bargain) machines but it started becoming a problem so I rationalised my "collection" a bit. The main problem was a lack of room!!

Now my main problem is I can't use any of them since I busted my ankle.

[Snakeoil]

Well the quick spruce-up hit a snag. The machine has a potted, worm gear drive motor. All the wiring is 1953 vintage plastic and either rotted away where it was bent or hard as a rock and cracked. I pulled the motor apart thinking I could easily splice in new wires and they were rotted all the way into the potted wrap. So, I stripped the potting off one of the coils after getting both out of the frame (it was a mutha to remove them) and now I have to figure out how to reinsulate the coils and install them securely in the frame. I know two places that might be able to help with materials. One rewinds starters and the other motors.

Here's a few pics. The little Singer light is adorable and in perfect shape.

 

[dikman]

The machine looks to be in excellent condition. Those old metal machines can be quite useful as they're pretty strong. As for repairing the motor, well done! Trying to remove old potting around windings is a pain in the you-know-what!

[rodneywt1180b]

Yes, very addictive.  I'm sitting on close to 30 of them now.  I don't keep an exact count and don't keep them all in one place,  I don't want my wife to know for sure...

I just picked up a Singer 15-91 like yours in rough shape for $5.  I've gotten more selective now but for $5 I couldn't resist.  Mine has some damage to the shellac and needs new wiring too.

Do I see a blue centennial badge on yours?

It should handle light leather and canvas to some extent but they're not leather machines.  You'll find yourself limited by needle and thread sizes and stitch lengths.

[Wizcrafts]

The pod motors show up now and then on ebay. If you are lucky enough to find one, and it works, invest in the special motor brush lube injectors sold on ebay. NEVER put oil into the tiny lube holes or the motor will be ruined!

Having owned and sold a few 15-91 machines I can say that they are not good leather sewing machines. They are best used to sew cloth.

[Snakeoil]

Okay. I'll keep the leather away from it. Two local motor rewind places have offered to sell me materials and help with reinsulating the coils in the motor. I did notice when I was taking it apart that the drive gear on the balance wheel is textolite. So that is probably the weak link in the drive train. Everything else looks pretty robust.

Here's a photo of the coils, one stripped the other still in the factory wrap.

Rob

 

Edited September 5, 2020 by Snakeoil
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[Handstitched]

@Snakeoil That machine looks so sweet, almost like new. I love seeing old machines work again . I also love  the odd & rare machines  that we see on this forum . I had  little to no interest in sewing machines once upon a time .  They can be quite addictive , I agree. 

I have 4 machines, the " newest" a Juki clone that  is approx 15 years old, the oldest is my 29K  patcher just shy of 100  years old.  They all earn their keep    I'd like 3 maybe 4 more machines, but I have no room . 

HS

[Brooks125]

You know you're going to have to keep us posted, right?

 

[Naidni]

The gear drive Singers have a weak link in the motor/drive.  If they work they are suitable for cloth. If you want a good light duty singer to sew heavier material look for the old style with the shuttle and long bobbin. Maybe????model 127???

These machines had 2 long throat plates extending across the bed of the machine inside or to the right of the needle. I have sewn 5 layers of heavy canvas on one of these machines when a newer rotary hook style Singer would miss every other sticth on such heavy work.