I found one at the town dump earlier this year. No idea at the time what it was, just that it was a vintage singer and was in need of rescue. Plans were to repair it and sell it. But once I learned what it was and what it could do, I decided to add it to my sewing machine collection. Upon deeper inspection, it really only needed cleaning and oiling. I still cannot comprehend why anyone would discard a working sewing machine.
It's shocking to see something so well made left for garbage. But then you realize that several generations of people have grown up with basically disposable consumer goods. They have no memory of how their grandparents would have saved and save to purchase one of these or actually make payments on them. Had that person realized what they had, I bet they would have at lease tried to sell it.
I just acquired this, table and all at an estate sale. Has not been used in 10 years. We are cleaning it up and have ordered new electric cords and a few other minor items. It is quite dirty but no rust. I'm sure it works but didn't want to try it until I get the new cords installed. As we wait on our order to arrive, we have been watching your videos with amazement. I certainly would trust your work on these machines if I wasn't planning on doing it myself. This will be my first. Not planning to do a complete overhaul unless it becomes evidently necessary. I wish people like you didn't live so far away or I'd have you do it. You really know what your doing!
After watching this video I went and bought me a 15-91 on a arts deco home case in mohagany, I think I got very lucky, the machine is like brand new with all the attachments, 2 sissors, singer oil can, lots of threads rools, attachments and the manual looks brand spanking new no folded corners, Im loving this machine. On my way out of the sellers home she offer me a searger. So I got home with two machines, for now By By I gotta go play with my new to me toys. By the way Im a mechanic and all the mecanical parts of a machine fasinates me. Cheers keep posting cool videos.
I just got one in cabinet 15-91 Omg. I love it sewn off on different machines Viking for 20 years that was prom gown s and wedding dress suits. Singer in 70-80s not so hot plastic. But this beautiful machine is perfect!
I actually was gifted one for free not long ago. I'm using it for quilting now. It's a great machine, I feel it's much better for quilting due to the tension being out of the way so you can see what your doing! Thanks for doing this video! 👍🏾
If numbers produced is the measure (including all the clones) then the Singer 15 is by far the best sewing machine of all time, and it deserves the title. It's a rock solid design and the large class 15 (aka Style A) bobbins are a great size.
I have a 15-88. I do free motion quilting on it and it works wonderfully. I tried FMQ on a model 66 but that machine was fussy about moving in some directions while quilting. I don’t have that issue with the 15 which goes whatever direction I ask it to move in. It is set up with a treadle and I really like how it operates. I believe it works so well because of the vertical bobbin. The other machine I tried FMQ on had a horizontal bobbin and that puts an extra turn in the bobbin thread as it stitches. The vertical bobbin doesn’t have that and I think this is what makes it so suitable for free motion quilting.
Buying my Planet machine from you has started me down a dangerous path. LOL. I love my machine and last weekend was lucky enough to score a mint 15-90 Singer. So my vintage collection begins. Thanks Stephen!
You're quite welcome Susan. So glad that the Planet machine was a good fit for you. Congrats on the Singer. That is likely one of the only domestic machines ever built that can sew as strong or stronger than the Planet! Those 15's are considered one of the strongest domestic models ever made. Actually, the Planet is a Japanese "clone" of the 15 and has a very similar bobbin/shuttle setup.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thanks, it is quite awesome, just need to do a little maintenance and oiling. It should last me my lifetime! Would you think it would be ok to use this machine for stitching webbing?
I found one at a thrift store last week for (are you sitting down?) I paid $49.00. Both cords were frayed. I took it to a local repairman and he smiled and told me "Oh, My! You have found a beauty! This is a full sized Singer 15-91" Just picked her up today "named her Betsy" and she is a WORKHORSE. The repairman only charged me $40. Very pleased.
I wanted to roll her foot for mine. 1591 really bad nobody locally had one, but I found it you buy the modern short shake roller foot in you it out where the boat where the hold nut goes until you matched the measurements of the old foot if it’s on here fine works great. Gotta do a little modification and these new foot fit.
I just purchased a Singer 15 I believe it's a 15-90 or 1591 it's got a potted motor and it's in a cabinet the serial number starts with AG any info would really be appreciated I want to get it cleaned up and running again....the man I purchased said it had been stored for 2years it just had a lot dust ,over all machine is in really good condition considering the age of machine
Thank you for sharing this video. Your remarks in video regarding comparison of the Singer 201 with potted motor and this Singer 15-91 with same kind of motor is interesting. I think the electric motor and gearing was equal on the two machines you tried out. So in some way this machine makes it easier for the motor to handle heavy materials. In my expierience, the torque required vary during the sewing cycle. When the needle eye passes the heavy fabric in upwards direction, the required torque is at max. At this point the shuttle hook pulls the upper thread down at high speed while you have got high friction to the thread in fabric with needle in hole and thread at both sides of it. I have tried to look for limitations in thread size on another class 15 machine, and discovered that the machining of the thread U-turn on the shuttle hook is important: leatherworker.net/forum/topic/86796-shape-of-thread-u-turn-on-shuttle/
I have a Singer 15- I have the manual that says 15-91 , So my question is. Is my singer a 15- 91 if 91 is not on the machine? It does have the potted direct drive motor and sees great! If any of you know the to my question please post the answer here! TY
Hi, I really appreciate your knowledge about these old machines. I have a very old treadle. Patented June 29, 1897. A Winchester-B. It's missing the thread guide that screws to the plate on the left side. I can send pics of machine if it will help. Anyway, I wanted to ask you if you could possibly point me in the right direction for finding the part I need. Thank you for your consideration. Robert.
You might contact an organization called Treadleon. They are a club of folks who treadle and might be a source for how to find parts or alternately, have a part fabricated.
It might. Singer produced most of its older style vintage cabinets to fit the dimensions of your 15-91 along with most other domestic Singer models. When the Slant-o-Matic machines were introduced, Singer widened the dimensions for where the machine sits in the table, but kept the hinge pin locations the same so that both older style and the later style dimensions could share the same table. This is why you sometimes see a filler plate on the right side of the machine so that the tables were 'backward compatible'. Your 15-91 should fit both of these two cabinet standards, although you may be missing the filler plate.
Hi Sharon. If I understand your question correctly, you have a treadle based Singer you want to install a motor on. You can do this if your machine has a bold hole on the right side (outside) of the pillar. You can google motor/bracket kit for vintage Singers and it should be possible. There are folks that use treadle tables just for the table support while not using the treadle for power. Here is an example with a 1.5 amp motor. (you can order the same setup with lower amp motors for slightly less $$) I have not ordered from this seller, but there are a variety of these being sold on Ebay etc. Be sure to check with the seller based on the model you have. www.ebay.com/itm/Triple-Power-Home-Sewing-Machine-Motor-1-5-Aamps-Motor-Only-For-Singer/350574285346?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111314%26meid%3D0ffd8a5a0e3f4bcab4ef6e96289e840b%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D271642945384%26itm%3D350574285346%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithDarwoV3BBEV2b%26brand%3DAlphasew&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851
I would highly recommend NOT doing that. I say this because the machine was designed to work within certain parameters. If you need to sew projects with heavier weight thread than your machine will accept, that is a sign that you need to perhaps move up to an industrial machine.
Hi. I have a question. I have a machine like this but it doesn't have motor, well not originally (I installed a new one) Is it the same model or is another one? The info about those models is confused to me. Thanks for your videos
I understand why it's easy to confuse them given how many models Singer produced. If you installed a motor that uses a belt, then it is NOT a 15-91. If your motor uses a belt, then it could be any number of Singer 15 machine versions depending on where it was produced. Singer was one of the very first global corporations and they produced many models across multiple continents.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thanks, yes it uses a belt, I look the serial number on the database and it supposed to be made in Taiwan in 1963, but I'm not sure 😃
I have two 15-91 and want to use one of them to donate a potted motor to a singer 201. Wondering if the potted motor of a singer 15-91 could be used on a singer 201?
If your machine runs on a motor that does not use a belt, then it is a 15-91. If it does require a motor belt, it would be any number of Singer 15 models, but not the 91 series.
Hello Edith. All sewing machines can require some adjustment when changing fabric weight/types. You can try switching the fabric first and see if the machine is ok with that. You will know when your stitches are formed and if they are balanced or not. If not, then make adjustments first to your upper tension dial. Also, note that most machine manuals have a guide to pairing up fabric weight/type with needle and thread size. Heavy drapery weight fabric requires a larger needle than silk does.. So I would focus on needle size, thread weight, and tension adjustments to see if that helps.
May I ask about your Kijiji listings? You're most likely out of my area, but I'm curious to see what your listings look like so that I may know what to look for in my area, perhaps what I should be doing when I sell a machine (just sold a 15-91 yesterday!.)
Hi Carol. They are very different machines but each is wonderful in unique ways. The 15-91 is a workhorse and can sew lots of heavy material types and garment leather too. The Featherweight is most famous for the beautiful stitches it makes and is highly coveted by quilters and others for this reason. Nothing wrong with having both, but use them for different needs.
Thank you for sharing this since all of the Singer 15s I've seen made in the UK or Canada were all set up for belted rear mount motors. I did not realize that Singer marketed the Potted motor designs in the UK. And it would need to have been set up for the electrical system there which is different from what we use in N. America. This is great to know, thank you.
Am buying one tomorrow. It’s in beautiful condition. Lived it’s life in a summer convent where Nuns would go on holiday.
I found one at the town dump earlier this year. No idea at the time what it was, just that it was a vintage singer and was in need of rescue. Plans were to repair it and sell it. But once I learned what it was and what it could do, I decided to add it to my sewing machine collection. Upon deeper inspection, it really only needed cleaning and oiling. I still cannot comprehend why anyone would discard a working sewing machine.
It's shocking to see something so well made left for garbage. But then you realize that several generations of people have grown up with basically disposable consumer goods. They have no memory of how their grandparents would have saved and save to purchase one of these or actually make payments on them. Had that person realized what they had, I bet they would have at lease tried to sell it.
I just got this one with a table for 5 dollars each. I feel sooo lucky. Thank you for your tutorials
I just acquired this, table and all at an estate sale. Has not been used in 10 years. We are cleaning it up and have ordered new electric cords and a few other minor items. It is quite dirty but no rust. I'm sure it works but didn't want to try it until I get the new cords installed. As we wait on our order to arrive, we have been watching your videos with amazement. I certainly would trust your work on these machines if I wasn't planning on doing it myself. This will be my first. Not planning to do a complete overhaul unless it becomes evidently necessary. I wish people like you didn't live so far away or I'd have you do it. You really know what your doing!
After watching this video I went and bought me a 15-91 on a arts deco home case in mohagany, I think I got very lucky, the machine is like brand new with all the attachments, 2 sissors, singer oil can, lots of threads rools, attachments and the manual looks brand spanking new no folded corners, Im loving this machine. On my way out of the sellers home she offer me a searger. So I got home with two machines, for now By By I gotta go play with my new to me toys. By the way Im a mechanic and all the mecanical parts of a machine fasinates me. Cheers keep posting cool videos.
I just got one in cabinet 15-91
Omg. I love it sewn off on different machines Viking for 20 years that was prom gown s and wedding dress suits. Singer in 70-80s not so hot plastic. But this beautiful machine is perfect!
I actually was gifted one for free not long ago. I'm using it for quilting now. It's a great machine, I feel it's much better for quilting due to the tension being out of the way so you can see what your doing! Thanks for doing this video! 👍🏾
If numbers produced is the measure (including all the clones) then the Singer 15 is by far the best sewing machine of all time, and it deserves the title. It's a rock solid design and the large class 15 (aka Style A) bobbins are a great size.
I have a 15-88. I do free motion quilting on it and it works wonderfully. I tried FMQ on a model 66 but that machine was fussy about moving in some directions while quilting. I don’t have that issue with the 15 which goes whatever direction I ask it to move in. It is set up with a treadle and I really like how it operates. I believe it works so well because of the vertical bobbin. The other machine I tried FMQ on had a horizontal bobbin and that puts an extra turn in the bobbin thread as it stitches. The vertical bobbin doesn’t have that and I think this is what makes it so suitable for free motion quilting.
Buying my Planet machine from you has started me down a dangerous path. LOL. I love my machine and last weekend was lucky enough to score a mint 15-90 Singer. So my vintage collection begins. Thanks Stephen!
You're quite welcome Susan. So glad that the Planet machine was a good fit for you. Congrats on the Singer. That is likely one of the only domestic machines ever built that can sew as strong or stronger than the Planet! Those 15's are considered one of the strongest domestic models ever made. Actually, the Planet is a Japanese "clone" of the 15 and has a very similar bobbin/shuttle setup.
The singer 15 is a gateway drug which leads to compulsive collecting.....
My favorite. Such a beast of a machine. I’ve put mine through hell. Never lets me down.
Very helpful! I am hoping to pick one of these up this week. Fingers crossed that it works as awesomely as your machine!
Good luck!
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thanks, it is quite awesome, just need to do a little maintenance and oiling. It should last me my lifetime! Would you think it would be ok to use this machine for stitching webbing?
Very nice demonstration,,,,thanks.
You are welcome!
I found one at a thrift store last week for (are you sitting down?) I paid $49.00. Both cords were frayed. I took it to a local repairman and he smiled and told me "Oh, My! You have found a beauty! This is a full sized Singer 15-91" Just picked her up today "named her Betsy" and she is a WORKHORSE. The repairman only charged me $40. Very pleased.
Thank you for your videos!
Thank you for the solution you made with dish soap, water, and alcohol cleaned up a big tape spot I had
I wanted to roll her foot for mine. 1591 really bad nobody locally had one, but I found it you buy the modern short shake roller foot in you it out where the boat where the hold nut goes until you matched the measurements of the old foot if it’s on here fine works great. Gotta do a little modification and these new foot fit.
Great video. Wish I could find a 15 handcrank machine, don't have room for another treadle.
I just purchased a Singer 15 I believe it's a 15-90 or 1591 it's got a potted motor and it's in a cabinet the serial number starts with AG any info would really be appreciated I want to get it cleaned up and running again....the man I purchased said it had been stored for 2years it just had a lot dust ,over all machine is in really good condition considering the age of machine
How can I locate a new or replacement foot control for my 51-19?
Ebay sellers have them. I would purchase one that has a new power cord already installed.
Thank you for sharing this video. Your remarks in video regarding comparison of the Singer 201 with potted motor and this Singer 15-91 with same kind of motor is interesting. I think the electric motor and gearing was equal on the two machines you tried out. So in some way this machine makes it easier for the motor to handle heavy materials. In my expierience, the torque required vary during the sewing cycle. When the needle eye passes the heavy fabric in upwards direction, the required torque is at max. At this point the shuttle hook pulls the upper thread down at high speed while you have got high friction to the thread in fabric with needle in hole and thread at both sides of it. I have tried to look for limitations in thread size on another class 15 machine, and discovered that the machining of the thread U-turn on the shuttle hook is important: leatherworker.net/forum/topic/86796-shape-of-thread-u-turn-on-shuttle/
I have a Singer 15- I have the manual that says 15-91 , So my question is. Is my singer a 15- 91 if 91 is not on the machine? It does have the potted direct drive motor and sees great! If any of you know the to my question please post the answer here! TY
Hello I have a singer AG625291 i need help on tips to work it?
Hi, I really appreciate your knowledge about these old machines. I have a very old treadle. Patented June 29, 1897. A Winchester-B. It's missing the thread guide that screws to the plate on the left side. I can send pics of machine if it will help. Anyway, I wanted to ask you if you could possibly point me in the right direction for finding the part I need. Thank you for your consideration. Robert.
You might contact an organization called Treadleon. They are a club of folks who treadle and might be a source for how to find parts or alternately, have a part fabricated.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thank you, I appreciate your help.
Can I put the 15-91 into an older singer cabinet, will it fit? Thanks!
It might. Singer produced most of its older style vintage cabinets to fit the dimensions of your 15-91 along with most other domestic Singer models. When the Slant-o-Matic machines were introduced, Singer widened the dimensions for where the machine sits in the table, but kept the hinge pin locations the same so that both older style and the later style dimensions could share the same table. This is why you sometimes see a filler plate on the right side of the machine so that the tables were 'backward compatible'. Your 15-91 should fit both of these two cabinet standards, although you may be missing the filler plate.
Hi, I have one of these and there are screws exposed in the plug. Is it supposed to be open like that or am I missing s peice for safety?
I love your videos, and your video helped me restore my 15-91. I am looking to put a motor on one of my treadle. Is this dificult?
Hi Sharon. If I understand your question correctly, you have a treadle based Singer you want to install a motor on. You can do this if your machine has a bold hole on the right side (outside) of the pillar. You can google motor/bracket kit for vintage Singers and it should be possible. There are folks that use treadle tables just for the table support while not using the treadle for power. Here is an example with a 1.5 amp motor. (you can order the same setup with lower amp motors for slightly less $$) I have not ordered from this seller, but there are a variety of these being sold on Ebay etc. Be sure to check with the seller based on the model you have. www.ebay.com/itm/Triple-Power-Home-Sewing-Machine-Motor-1-5-Aamps-Motor-Only-For-Singer/350574285346?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111314%26meid%3D0ffd8a5a0e3f4bcab4ef6e96289e840b%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D271642945384%26itm%3D350574285346%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithDarwoV3BBEV2b%26brand%3DAlphasew&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851
A link to the listing please.
I just found ag 589568 excellent condition can you put a plate with a larger hole in it. I try a 18 with 12wt thread wouldn't pull the thread through
I would highly recommend NOT doing that. I say this because the machine was designed to work within certain parameters. If you need to sew projects with heavier weight thread than your machine will accept, that is a sign that you need to perhaps move up to an industrial machine.
How much
This maybe a silly question but are the graphics the same on all the 15s?
Thankful for your video and I want one ...help me out please
Hi. I have a question.
I have a machine like this but it doesn't have motor, well not originally (I installed a new one)
Is it the same model or is another one?
The info about those models is confused to me.
Thanks for your videos
I understand why it's easy to confuse them given how many models Singer produced. If you installed a motor that uses a belt, then it is NOT a 15-91. If your motor uses a belt, then it could be any number of Singer 15 machine versions depending on where it was produced. Singer was one of the very first global corporations and they produced many models across multiple continents.
@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thanks, yes it uses a belt, I look the serial number on the database and it supposed to be made in Taiwan in 1963, but I'm not sure 😃
I have two 15-91 and want to use one of them to donate a potted motor to a singer 201. Wondering if the potted motor of a singer 15-91 could be used on a singer 201?
Yes.
I have a singer that has a plate like this on the front ( 15- ). Is this a 91 machine?
If your machine runs on a motor that does not use a belt, then it is a 15-91. If it does require a motor belt, it would be any number of Singer 15 models, but not the 91 series.
101-3 and 101-11 have direct drive too.
So you do not need to adjust the tension? Do you need to adjust the length of stitch - mine always has a fit if I do anything besides cotton.
Hello Edith. All sewing machines can require some adjustment when changing fabric weight/types. You can try switching the fabric first and see if the machine is ok with that. You will know when your stitches are formed and if they are balanced or not. If not, then make adjustments first to your upper tension dial. Also, note that most machine manuals have a guide to pairing up fabric weight/type with needle and thread size. Heavy drapery weight fabric requires a larger needle than silk does.. So I would focus on needle size, thread weight, and tension adjustments to see if that helps.
May I ask about your Kijiji listings? You're most likely out of my area, but I'm curious to see what your listings look like so that I may know what to look for in my area, perhaps what I should be doing when I sell a machine (just sold a 15-91 yesterday!.)
We are under Kijiji in Southern Ontario in Waterloo.
Have you ever worked on any redeye 66.
Wonder how this compares to a 221 featherweight....
Hi Carol. They are very different machines but each is wonderful in unique ways. The 15-91 is a workhorse and can sew lots of heavy material types and garment leather too. The Featherweight is most famous for the beautiful stitches it makes and is highly coveted by quilters and others for this reason. Nothing wrong with having both, but use them for different needs.
My 15-91(15k91)machine was made in Great Britain but has a potted motor.
Thank you for sharing this since all of the Singer 15s I've seen made in the UK or Canada were all set up for belted rear mount motors. I did not realize that Singer marketed the Potted motor designs in the UK. And it would need to have been set up for the electrical system there which is different from what we use in N. America. This is great to know, thank you.
I just picked up a 15-91 made in Canada for my wife to use for making bags. Great machine
Vintage Sewing Machine Garage your very welcome! 👍🏾
They're still making knock offs of the 15. I have a handcrank one that was made in China in 2019.