Battle of the Vintage Singer Hand Cranks: Singer 128 vs Singer 15 Which One Should You Get

[@ourcreativebeehive]

I have been moving an old Singer machine for years now. It belonged to my Baba. All I knew about it was that my Zeda had a motor added to it. It has never worked in my lifetime. I was born in the 70s. I just learned it is a Singer 128 handcrank. I now plan to try to restore it as I am a seamstress, and all of the children can and do sew.

[@SimplyStitchy]

The 128 has one of the nicest straight stitches! I hope you do manage to get it back up and running... let me know how you get on! Thanks for watching 😀

[@marsy1480]

I used to have a Singer hand crank with a shuttle bobbin. It was my first machine as a child which was given to me by my seamstress grandmother.

[@trusconi81]

I recently saved a hand crank singer from the scrapyard. After finding a serial number decoder and searching the serial number It was manufactured in 1890. Also picked up a hand crank Davis machine at the same time. Haven’t looked into that one yet but plan on getting both machines properly functioning again. Have always had a fascination with mechanical devices and fixing them

[@hollywinsman9464]

Love the sound of the 128 but love the ease of the bobbin on the 15.

[@sunnasmilieu]

I have two 201k's. One electric, one treadle. Now I guess I need to find a hand cranked and I'm set.

[@pheebs1444]

No one warned me that they multiply when your back is turned!!😂 I somehow collected a Singer 27 treadle (my current go-to), a 401a, New Home 470 and an 80’s Kenmore…..

[@SimplyStitchy]

Multiply and then some! lol 😆

[@Amritadivya54]

My grandmother sewed with a treadle machine that was converted to electric probably in the 1930's. It had a vibrating shuttle and she always had a time with it, but didn't want a new machine since it had a great straight stitch. Thank you for the video!

[@SimplyStitchy]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@Hippiechick11]

I recently bought a 1910 27 Singer and found you while looking for information on it. I really enjoyed this video, and will be watching more of your videos as time allows. Thank you for posting these videos.

[@SimplyStitchy]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!.🙂

[@RED-cy7ig]

Love all of your machines.

[@carmencolon3520]

Talking about handcrank I have the 128 or 28 that I am still working on restoration. Glad to know that will need patience regarding the bobbing. Now model 15, I saw one but it's not a handcrank. I guess could be converted to hand crank. Thanks

[@SimplyStitchy]

Take a look in the bobbin area on your vibrating shuttle... if it has a bobbin release button in there - it's a 128. 15s can be converted to handcranks. It'll be easier if the machine already has a spoked wheel as that usually means it was originally a handcrank. If it has the electric style wheel (smaller and solid) you'll need to swap it out for a handcrank unit designed for converting electric machines - doable but requires a bit more work and might cost a bit more.

[@meganmills6545]

It's easier and faster for winding the bobbin on the long bobbin machines to put the bobbin in the winder first, then pull it back slightly to trap the end of the thread and then "thread it backwards" for the thread between the bobbin winder and spool, taking up the extra slack you'll have pulled out to do that by "winding the spool backwards" a little. :-)

[@SimplyStitchy]

Not always... it depends on your bobbin and how well it stays in place within the bobbin winder. Thanks for watching 😀

[@meganmills6545]

@@SimplyStitchy 'Tis true - I had one once that didn't like to hold the bobbin quite firmly enough. I ended up thinning a small disk of leather until it was Goldilock-just-right and popping into the "cup" to help the bobbin lodge in there with a bit more grip and keep the end of the thread in place until it got a few windings on the bobbin. They can have their "personalities", these old machines, and some are utter sweeties that will very nicely do anything you ask of them - others need a little more... persuading. :-) But I love them all anyway. I figure when you're nigh on a century old, or quite a bit more for some of them, you're entitled to a touch of curmedgeonlyness from time to time. (I don't even know if that's a word!)

[@alejandromonsalves9773]

I have the singer 128, and I love this machine.

[@engelbob8402]

Nice video. Thanks for doing this.

[@SimplyStitchy]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@SewingMachineRehab]

I’d go for the 15 for sure, even if it is heavier! Love the sound of the hand crank and the less fiddley bobbin. Great video!

[@SimplyStitchy]

Thank you! And thanks for watching! 🙂

[@scottsews]

Well I'm on the fence now, because yesterday I acquired a singer 28k treadle which I carried to the car and from the car into my apartment and I love it so much, I suppose it's down to what machine you are more familiar with and enjoy using as ultimately you'll pit up with the faff just to use it 😅 Gym membership isn't required if you own a collection of vintage machines!

[@SimplyStitchy]

I know, right 😆 Our obsession with sewing machines is saving us a fortune... the money we don't need to spend on gym membership can be used to buy more machines - Win! Win! 😉😆

[@historygradstu]

I love my kilbowie mfg singer 15 hand crank, it's a 1951 centennial my mother brought over to the states, I sew with it every other day. She converted it to electric, which I converted back to hand crank until I get better with it, it then may go back to electric....it's my favorite in any configuration

[@nancyholich3199]

For me it would be the ❤15

[@kevinturner7903]

Thanks for the video I enjoyed looking at the comparison, I have the exact copy of your 15k mine is in its treadle base although I have the hand crank device that fits it if I need to use that! Thanks for sharing your knowledge & collection!

[@SimplyStitchy]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching 🙂

[@reecebuttercup]

Hi. Well I have two touch and sew machines. One with zig zag and cams and one straight stitch which I thought they were all zig zag. But no troubles as I bought it for the one foot I like it as when I got my zig zag back from being serviced he had switched my beloved foot so another foot. Anyhow I also have two rocketeers 503 I had one long ago and I bought another. Them I have the treadle red eye and I just bought the nicest 201. So after all that time spent.........I was wondering which of the vintage electric sewing machines has the largest throat space and the tallest as I need the space for quilting. I thought the 90 -15 or 90-16. There was also a 66 that was somewhat higher but can't remember the number. Since you are so learned I thought you would know all the facts. Ty

[@SimplyStitchy]

I'm not familiar with the Singer 90. There is a Singer 16-90. I think it's an industrial so it will probably have ample throat space. I know the Singer 15-90 has a reasonable throat space in terms of both width and height. However, if it was me, I'd try the Singer 66. Or maybe the 201. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@janetpaden8878]

Thank you so much for the demo! I personally like the 15.

[@SimplyStitchy]

Me too! 😉 Thanks for watching 🙂

[@taylortomblin]

I’ve never had the pleasure of trying a 15 before. However, I have a model 27 treadle and a 66 hand crank. I love the sound of the vibrating shuttle machine. It’s musical and soothing to me. I do love the full sized machines though. My modern machines have such a tiny throat space compared to my 27. The openness of the full sized machine is a feature I really love. So, I’m not sure if I’d choose your 128 because of the sound or if I’d choose your 15 for the practicality of the larger size. It’s a conundrum!

[@SimplyStitchy]

It sure is! Now I know why I have so many machines 😉 😆 Thanks for watching!

[@poetmaggie1]

Round bobbin for me, all I wanted was a hand crank and the kind of stitch that doesn't pull out. singer 15 looks like the one I got. It is heavy but so is my electric portable singer. they use the same bobbins.

[@SimplyStitchy]

Must admit I prefer round bobbins too. They are just so much easier to use. The easiest way to identify a Singer 15 is to find the tension discs. If they are mounted on the face plate - it's a 15. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@Ahmed7255]

Hi, Thank you for the video, planning to buy one of these to my sister, wondering if it is easy to use the cranck while sewing, I have no experience in sewing but I always thought they we need 2 hands to hold and direct the fabric. will it be easy to complete a project using one hand on the cranck and one hand on the fabric? thank you

[@SimplyStitchy]

Yes! Although I would recommend practicing with the machine before starting your project. Take a look at this video to see how easy it really is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moG5kKuqbZaJmrs and this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/havCnKKehdB0ha8 Thanks for watching 🙂

[@shadowcastre]

Wow... beautiful machines! Question... How thick of material, thin soft leather, Canvas, denim, can either/both machines sew? I am in the market for a Singer hand crank. Weight is no issue for me. Thanks for the video...

[@SimplyStitchy]

It's not just the thickness of the fabric that you need to watch. It's also the bulk in the layers at the seams. As long as the layers will fit under the presser foot - with room to spare - a hand crank should be able to sew them. The machine needs to be able to drop the needle into the fabric and completely leave the fabric on the way back up. Otherwise, it can't make a stitch. You also need to be able to lower the presser foot completely or you won't get the right tension on the thread. Of the two shown in this video - the Singer 15 will cope better as it is heavier. Be aware that there are some leathers that domestic sewing machines can not sew as they are too rigid and thick. My rule of thumb is - the more flexible the leather/canvas - the better the machine will sew it. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@ChrisSmith-tw1mo]

I know the shuttle is technically “longer", but having used both, does the Vibrating Shuttle Bobbin from the Model 128 actually hold more thread than the Class 15 bobbin in the video? Great video by the way.

[@SimplyStitchy]

The round bobbin in both the class 15 and class 66 machines can hold a lot more than the vibrating shuttle's long bobbin. The long bobbin is capable of holding around 15-20 yards. While the class 15 can hold between 40-50 yards. Check out my video on comparing the long bobbin to the Touch & Sew bobbin to see how they compare in size: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn68iXegpq-Haas Thanks for watching! 🙂