PURCHASING SERIES #19: The Singer 15-91: Arguably The Most Powerful Domestic Sewing Machine Ever!!!

[@Cathy_MidwestHome_Hens]

It’s late but I’m saving this video to watch tomorrow 😊

[@cocasio7190]

Wow! It was kept in really good conditions.The paint and decals look great. My 15-88 was well loved by my relative. It's missing all the decals and a big area of the bed paint, but I love it. It reminds me my sweet relative. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy watching your videos. Happy belated 4th of July.

[@sdunca4864]

Bravo- I have a Japanese 15 clone that sews beautifully- Nice find! Love to see a tear down/rebuild series on this pretty beastie!

[@eldersandim3008]

My mother used to make clothes for us as children on the Singer 15C sewing machine. Today he only uses it for repairs and repairs. It doesn't pay to make clothes anymore. Because industrialized clothing is cheaper. In the past, the price of the fabric was cheap, and it paid off to sew your clothes at home.

[@kathydias5070]

Thank you for this video. Your explanations are very thorough. I recently acquired 2 of these, wonderful machines! I was able to rewire one of them and need to do the other, but still need to do the general maintenance.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Great to hear!

[@michaelshick4612]

Good morning, I recently picked up a 15-91 Singer with the cabinet. Would like to go though all the mechanics. Do you or are going to be doing a complete video on this model. More so on motor wiring, brushes and lubrications of gears. I’ve watched some of your videos and you seem very knowledgeable on sewing machines. Thank you Larry S.

[@stewlis1]

I was following this amazing tutorial but now I find I’m at a turning point, my motor inside is entirely charred and I’m not sure simply rewiring it is going to fix it. It looks like the example he did of one that someone put motor grease in the brush instead of the grease pot or something, mine is actually worse shape than his! vssmb.blogspot.com/?m=1

[@avelsgard78]

I have never owned a Singer 15-91 but I do have 2 Viking Automatic class 21's and they are VERY powerful as well. I would love to see a sew off to determine which is the most powerful. My reduction gears can plow through dang near anything! Thank you for the wonderful video. I always learn something!

[@eldersandim3008]

I like SINGER 15 moodels. My mom has a Singer 15C that was 54 years old this year and never needed to be repaired. Singer serie 15 are robust and strong sewing machine.

[@ronalddevine9587]

That machine looks like it was barely used. The bobbin cover and needle plate don't seem to be scratched very much. I noticed the 66 bobbin as soon as you removed the bobbin case. As always, great 👍 video. Many thanks

[@richardmarshall6751]

Great review. Could you please do a follow-up showing how to check the timing, i.e.needle to shuttle synchronization? Is that something that doesn't go out of whack often?

[@ninjananagardner7672]

I would love you to do a video on checking and changing the check spring on the 15 class sewing machine ! Love watching your videos very much

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Great suggestion!

[@josephfinlay2996]

Gotta say, I've become a fan of your channel after inheriting a White Rotary 77 and Fleetwood 767-B from my great aunt. I serviced the grease wicks, friction wheel and tension assemblies on the White 77 after watching your videos. I caught the bug and just picked up a 1952 Singer 15-91 and after oiling it does sew very, very well but I will be servicing the potted motor based on your maintenance series. I must say though if any of you are also into old engines, after using both the White Rotary 77 and Singer 15-91, the White 77 is the Ford 300 CID inline 6 cylinder workhorse of the vintage world compared to the gorgeous Singer small block V-8s. I'm not sure that the White 77 can't keep up with the 15-91 and seems to have so much piercing power or low end torque so to speak. But admittedly I'm now in love with the 15-91 after using it. But that White 77 is very underrated IMO. Thanks for your videos and infection enthusiasm with these heirlooms!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Hi Joseph. I love vintage cars so I do get the motor references you refer to. As for whether the White 77 can "keep up" with the Singer 15-91, it may be irrelevant. If I were sewing the heaviest material possible with a domestic/home sewing machine, I would give the edge to the Singer. However, remember that "most" home sewers never push their machines that far and the White Rotary models have a very incredible stitch not unlike the Singer 201, Singer 221, and Singer 301. Think of the Singer as a "tractor" and the White 77 as a smooth sedan; each excelling in its own way depending on the task required.

[@josephfinlay2996]

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage The White 77 as you've noted in your videos really, really excels at very small stitches I've noticed also. I don't think I mentioned, but I also picked up a White Family Rotary 1913 in the treadle and really love it. It's fun to practice on it and I've gotten to where I can really slow the stitch down and treadle with one foot as a size 13 lol. Perspective or memory is also interesting as I was sharing my experiences with my 87 year old aunt, and she remembers White being the better machine or reputation compared to Singers of her day.

[@I_sew_slow]

I love my 15 🥰

[@dogwalkfinds9899]

Great looking machine! I'm looking forward to watching you overhaul it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@lindahanke]

I have a15-91 in a cabinet also but mine has the knee lever with the knee controller motor and it works but I haven’t seen any in talk about that obsolete part.

[@shurppa64]

I have this machine. Its in great shape. I had it gone through. the power chord was dry rotted. Which was why I took it in. But all in all it in really nice shape.

[@ramonakearns2101]

I have this machine. My issue is the motor controller doesn't have a notch where I can properly attach the sewing belt on. The machine needed a bulb, motor controller and sewing motor belt.

[@kaydespard9540]

I took your advice (and that of others) about getting a Chapman 9600 tool kit. On their web site they have a promotions RED case so I am totally thrilled to get exactly what I want in a color I like! Thanks!

[@andveryginger]

So I did finally opt to pick up a 15-91, and took on the added challenge of a frozen machine with a questionable finish. Needless to say, I am in the process of doing a bit of an overhaul. It only took two days, but I finally got everything moving. Unfortunately, because the lock up was where the needle bar and presser bar met the body, I had to remove them to clean them. While I have put things back together, and have been following the maintenance manual for the machine as best I can, I'm still uncertain as to whether or not I got everything put back in the right place. (Apparently I'm a visual learner!) You've done an amazing job, documenting the ins and outs of this machine so well, but I have yet to find a video I can learn from, clearly someone else doing this. I have a few days, waiting for the wicks and the grease for the motor, so if there's any advice -- video or text -- that you could offer, it'd be greatly appreciated. Beyond that, thank you so much for all the videos. They have been really helpful and educational, and I've enjoyed absorbing so much know-how and history!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Hi Ginger. Congrats on hanging in there with your machine and seeing it through until it 'woke up'. I do have some videos on servicing the 'Potted Motors' and replacing the wicks. Try searching under "Motor Series"

[@andveryginger]

​@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Yup! Got those! I'm approaching those with a LOT more confidence than I am the presser bar and needle bar? =D I spent more time with the machine this evening and I think I have it figured out. The set screw for the presser bar is a bit... finicky. Going to have to work with it to find a happy medium, and probably apply a bit more oil. Thank you -- I hope to have everything back together to test by the weekend. Here's crossing fingers and toes!

[@davidstaller8247]

We started using my Moms 15-91 to make masks, it has been sitting for years. It is sewing great. But it just started skipping stitches when sew a few layers, on a single piece of material it sews fine. What should we do to start diagnosing the problem. Any help would be appreciated.

[@danielc.8006]

Any trusted source for refurb parts? Bobbin tires, etc?

[@sunnyruth8575]

Hi I just bought a machine 15 91 in incredible condition except my feed dogs don't move forward and backwards. They just move up and down what do I look for.

[@heavensentshihtzu]

How do you know if it is a 15-91? I recently got a sewing machine and checking the serial number I found out that it is a 15, born in 1936. How do I find out what 15 series it would be so I can try and find a manual for it?

[@GaryT1952]

I would rewire the original plug. The original Bakelite power plugs, be they single feed or double feed, fit so much better than modern after-market molded plugs.

[@jesusitajimenez2229]

Where can I have find a bobbin for a vintage sewing machine New Home and what size is it NH82892 Janome and 15/66 and letters L/A do not fit

[@richardmarshall6751]

I have a "15 Clone", beautiful blue color. It had been in family closet for 25+ years. Motor frozen, mechanism tight, wires brittle / exposed and bobbin tire cracked. Oh, also check spring broken off where the missing lever end leaves the coils..... Well, sorted everything out, running like butter now. I had to uncoil a few windings from the check spring, to re-create the lever. Problem is: I can't get the tension disks to work properly. Either at low setting or high, the thread ends up slipping past the disks, and riding on the inner shaft. Note: it is not frozen. This causes too much tension, and the material starts to bunch up. Is this common? Does anyone know if a Singer tension system from a 15-91 would fit on a 15 Clone? Or, alternatively, are the OEM Japanese tensioners available from anyone? Finally, does anyone do repairs on these tensioners? I can't see any way to take it apart.

[@EddieEloff]

I have 1906

[@deborahmanzoni8671]

What a the value of this model machine in good condition? I have one available for sale?

[@THEMAYQUEEN1]

I bought a 15k88 last week and spent today cleaning and oiling it. I tried to sew with it and it knotted up the threads on the under side of the fabric but top stitches were ok. Would this be bobbin issues causing this ?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

There can be a number of causes for thread tension/stitch issues. If its the bottom stitch that is knotting, then I would first attempt to rethread the machine and consider where the tension on the TOP end of the machine could be having problems. Also, be sure to have the presser foot up when threading.

[@THEMAYQUEEN1]

Vintage Sewing Machine Garage thank you. I will keep fiddling 😁

[@hilarysutherland682]

how do we contact you for a restoration project. I am in the GTA

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Hello Hilary. If you look at my channel homepage, click under the "About" tab and at the bottom, there is a grey tab with "View Email address" You can contact me there. Thank you

[@ericneering6357]

What did them little tiny chips and nicks mean on a machine this old let’s talk about the internals let’s get it showing. Is that going to make a difference on how it sells. Love your stuff to get over paint and finish. Nobody cares at least anybody that’s really sewing don’t get.