Restoring an antique Singer 15 sewing machine

I bought an antique Singer 15 treadle sewing machine for myself. Before I was able to sew with it, I had to go through a restoration project that took weeks. The machine was in a good condition, just dirty and stiff and I cleaned it thoroughly. The cabinet needed more restoration as the veneer was coming loose at every edge and the varnish had disappeared in many places.
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[@martyting6834]

I could watch you restore all day.

[@thecheshirecrafter4522]

The best 35.04 minutes of my day today. Your choice of music and text overlay is commendable, making this a video I'll return to when I want to relax. What a magnificent machine! I thoroughly enjoyed watching you restore the cabinet as much as the machine and you did so splendidly. Thanks for sharing your skills with us. I hope you enjoy many years of stitching with this machine.

[@alexlopez8922]

What a lovely restoration I got my aunts antique sewing machine sin she cannot saw anymore as a heirloom and I’m so impressed that this machine is more comfortable to work with and there’s something about it that feels right and the fact that runs by me moving the pedal has become a wow 🤩 factor for me I don’t get tired so easily as it happens with my electrical one, so much hope for more people to try on this vintage sewing machines, once again what a lovely 🥰 restoration and happy sewing’s

[@withmyhandsdream]

Yes. I started sewing with my Singer once more after a bit of a break and it’s so much more enjoyable than sewing with a modern electrical machine. Doing things more slowly helps you to concentrate on the process of making and reduces stress.

[@ninecatsmagee8384]

Absolutely gorgeous. Like a dream.

[@bernadette607]

You are absolutely wonderful. I love how you respect and bring such love to reviving this beautiful singer.... Wow she is certainly singing now. You have got to name her 😉 🧵. Well done. So so satisfying.

[@billmaguire6216]

Absolutely brilliant, young lady! Great job! I've gone through 4 machines of various years, and they all run smoothly now. I oil mine with Triflow, a popular oil for bike and sewing machine mechanics. Good for you! Absolutely beautifully done!

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thank you! I have an engineering physics background. These are refreshingly simple machines compared to some I’ve had to fix during the years!

[@soileilkkala8831]

Congratulation getting new , old Singer . Leave it to Finnish woman to take apart old Singer , clean , fix and put it back together without having extra pieces left :P . You did great job ! Machine and cabinet look gorgeous . Brings back a lot memories , I learned sewing with one like from my grandmama when I was 5 years old very long time ago .

[@cpoul]

Lots of work, nice job.

[@kimopenheimer8924]

Nice job cleaning the singer 15 treadle. I wish I had one to sew with. Thank you.🌹

[@sebastianamatthews9483]

I have one es well, and for me it’s the best in the world.

[@danielrussell452]

Well done good job 👍

[@stewartperry7797]

Very nice work. Thanks for sharing!

[@dondavis6997]

I hope you enjoy it for many years. It looks like a very beautiful machine

[@mosbysmen]

awesome job you should be very proud

[@ronaldguertin5058]

Absolutely superb work. A masterful restoration. I am in admiration of your skill level and attention to every detail is amazing.

[@amyhannon3034]

Wonderful video! This might give me the courage to disassemble & clean out my old nelco 😆

[@withmyhandsdream]

Thank you! It's not that hard. Just take a lot of photos and bag everything so that you don't lose any parts! And be wiser and don't do it on a thick rug like I did. It's a wonder that I didn't lose any small parts in it!

[@al3qu3t]

Good job!

[@edde2109]

Hast du sehr schön gemacht!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@yamilgacel6319]

Excellent !!!!

[@dondavis6997]

Very beautiful sewing machine case or I should say desk housing. Whatever you want to call itable. You're doing a very good job on it i'm trying to find one for mine the Is right year

[@ronaldcamacho9458]

Toda una joyita. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻😊

[@ElliLovett]

I am currently also trying to french polish a sewing machine table and it has been going on for a while so i feel your pain. Thanks for the idea of putting shellac on the sewing machine itself to protect the decals, i was stressing out about protecting them.

[@deborahdonnelly8423]

didn’t she use the shellac only on the cabinet? She shows herself putting shellac on the cabinet drawers. If shellac works on the machine I would be surprised. She didn’t say how she got the machine so shiny. I’ve seen machine repair people use auto polish on the machine itself.

[@mother2midwife]

Sew beautiful :)

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

👍 Bravo

[@Messenger_of_Allah313]

Nice, but would probably do the cleaning part in the bathroom or something XD Just scored 201k made in 1955 with table (needs some work) from fleemarket. After 4-5 hours got it running it was completely Jammed now runs like a new machine. Whole set with lots of accessory was 20€ no case sadly. Cheers From Finland !!!

[@withmyhandsdream]

That would have been wise. Though it took weeks and I wasn't ready to give up my bathroom. Finally, livingroom is easier to sacrifice than a bathroom! And the bathroom wouldn't have had the space anyway! But luckily the old waxed tablecloth was surprisingly good protection. I don't remember making any serious mess.

[@philbrown2270]

Hi, I loved your video. I have a similar sewing machine but I can't find a manual for it. If you k ow of how I could get a manual, I would most appreciate, thanks.

[@withmyhandsdream]

Have you tried ISMACS? Google them. They might have a manual on their site.

[@jeanettebeccau458]

O MY Goood 🙌🙌🙌🙌❤️

[@626BARDALAS]

What amazing woman ❤ Merry me

[@stephanieh133]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Do you mind sharing if your lovely skirts are a pattern you've sewn up?

[@withmyhandsdream]

I don’t know which skirt you are referring to but all the skirts and dresses on this video are sewn by me.

[@lizg.3057]

Amazing! I am looking at purchasing a similar one as a collectors item. What are the measurements of your table?

[@c.b.m4618]

Amazing. I have a Singer 306k and i am trying with the machine but the cabinet is in so bad condition. Like your video though. Thanks for helping with some insights.

[@withmyhandsdream]

You’re welcome! Good luck with your cabinet!

[@cometahyakutake9375]

With those harsh chemicals gloves are always advisable. Nevertheless, well done!

[@angieg8483]

Magnifique travail 😍, je veux faire la même chose pour la machine à coudre de ma maman . Ce serait merveilleux si vous pouviez mettre des sous titres pour comprendre mieux les produits que vous avez utilisé. Merci . Bien cordialement .🌹

[@sewingmachines6369]

👍👍👌

[@AdirondackJenScott74]

All thr weights on the glue up! Hahaha!!

[@deborahdonnelly8423]

This is a beautiful singer! Where the heck did you find both a cabinet and beautiful machine? This is one of my favorite singer decal pattern.

[@aiela4886]

Buen y bendecido día, gracias por el vídeo espectacular. Por favor me dice con que limpio la máquina.qye linda. Gracias 😊

[@AdirondackJenScott74]

What have you sewn with this beautiful machine? I would love to see!! I am going to look at a treadle machine tomorrow, to see if I might buy it. It's a Singer, from 1921 I think.

[@withmyhandsdream]

You can find videos of me using this machine that I filmed about a year ago. I made some pretty Edwardian and Victorian historical clothes with it.

[@annabelcowey293]

How beatiful! I've picked up one or two singers that were unloved 😢 It's very therapeutic cleaning them but can you suggest a good cleaner for the body? I usually just use sewing machine oil but sometimes it doesn't remove the hazing of built up oil. Loved this video.x

[@withmyhandsdream]

I used ethanol and acetone but only for the inside parts. I even soaked those parts properly if they were really dirty.

[@annabelcowey293]

Thank you. How about the japanning? I use sewing machine oil....do you agree?

[@dianehale8662]

I loved your video! I bought one of these machines (1903) today so am keen to start the cleaning process. May I ask about the shellac you used?

[@withmyhandsdream]

I used ready-made shellac from a brand called Auro. It was very nice. I must admit that something in my combination of shellac, oil and alcohol wasn’t right as the surface remains a bit soft still. If I leave something on the table for a long time, it sort of sinks into the surface and leaves a mark. I recommend asking an expert on antique furniture restorer for tips to do this better!

[@dianehale8662]

@@withmyhandsdream Thank you for your reply

[@dondavis6997]

You indicated you may have had a shuttle machine before how did you like that

[@withmyhandsdream]

Yes, I have Singer 12 from 1888. I don’t really like it. It is beautiful but it is painfully slow and it is hard to get the tension right. It is also very difficult to find needles for it as the regular ones don’t work. I have to order them fro eBay.

[@myeramimclerie7869]

Thank you for this video! I recently purchased of what I think is a Singer 15. It has a C serial number and no model number, so it's hard to find information about it. Do you know what submodel you have? Mine looks very similar, just the paint job is not as luxurious... Also do you perhaps know what the whole under the hand wheel is for? Is it for a handle or motor attachment? Thanks in advance 🙏

[@withmyhandsdream]

You can usually find manufacturing date at ISMACS website. Unfortunately, C-series can’t be dated exactly as they were made in Wittenberg, Germany. Soviet troops emptied the factory after WWII and all the records were lost. I don’t know what you mean with your second question. Do you perhaps misspell ”hole”? There is a hole to attach an electric motor there, I think. I have never tried to use my machine with an electric motor but I do have one that should fit.

[@myeramimclerie7869]

@@withmyhandsdream Hi, thanks for your answer! Yes, I misspelled "hole" 🙈 but good to know. And yeah, unfortunately I have a C number... I want to find an operation manual on my model, but I don't know what exact model I have hence the question...

[@JuliaRtv50]

I have the same machine and started the cleaning process after watching your video Do you know where I can get the decals? Or if anyone else knows can you PLEASE help me thank You 🙏 Great job on this beautiful Vintage find!! I paid $8.00 for mine and it is sooo stuck and will need to glue the top of the table as well. Hopefully I can find the decals .

[@withmyhandsdream]

Just google ”Singer 15 decals”. There are couple of places where tpu can buy them. My decals were in a pretty good shape so I only used a tiny paintbrush and acrylic paint to patch the few worn places.

[@JuliaRtv50]

@@withmyhandsdream thank you 🙏 I did but all I keep getting are Pinterest links but I’ll keep searching keep making more videos please😊

[@arturuscio9031]

Mam taki sam model. Ale mam mało informacji . Który to rok produkcji ?🤔

[@withmyhandsdream]

I don’t know. I think is about from the 1910s but it is German-made, so the records are missing.

[@MrMegaMikefly]

You have done an amazing job!! I came here because I have been looking everywhere hoping to see someone set the height of a needlebar on a 15. I have read about how to do it but I am struggling with it. I have restored a few old Singers but have never done this particular process. Yours is the ONLY video (can't find any photos either) of a needlebar that is the same as on my 15 (a 15-30 I think) that is, one with no bushing at the top, and no timing marks. Could you tell me how you did yours? I've subscribed to your channel now.

[@withmyhandsdream]

I can’t remember perfectly but I think there was this screw that goes in from the ”underarm” of the machine and you could only fasten that if the needlebar was in the right position. Send me another comment if that doesn’t help. Right now I have put away my machine but I could try looking at the latter half of this week when I’m less busy.

[@lizziel4876]

@@withmyhandsdream I accidentally sent that comment from the wrong account! Thank you - it seems with my needlebar that the screw would tighten up whatever position it was in. It is just cylindrical all the way. I do know what you mean, though, as I have seen other needlebars with an indentation where the screw goes. Don't worry too much, but if you could look at your machine I would much appreciate it.

[@lizziel4876]

@@withmyhandsdream I have fixed it! So no need to look at yours. I have got it stitching now!

[@jackdaw7751]

That's a 1914 Tiffany Gingerbread?

[@withmyhandsdream]

I can’t date the machine accurately as it is German-made but you are right about the decals and I believe that even the year is pretty close. I just can’t say for sure as the Wyttenberge records haven’t survived.

[@jackdaw7751]

@@withmyhandsdream ahh that makes sense. I have a similar vintage, red-eye 1919. It's always nice to see someone else excited about old treadles. They are such workhorses!

[@GoldenGlacier]

@@withmyhandsdream the serial number gives you some clues, Wittenberg all start with "C" and I think they started from 1910 and in total 6 or 4 million were produced the number

[@franklindlbauer7958]

The audio was terrible you're not close enough to the speaker to hear what you are saying so sorry

[@withmyhandsdream]

This is a very old video you are commenting on. If I can humbly suggest, your time would be better spent commenting on videos that are more recent and therefore contain far more sophisticated equipment and editing software. I can’t do much to improve these ole videos!