Posted 9 years ago
Kydur
(103 items)
This was the first Singer sewing machine I bought. According to the Singer sewing machine online serial number database, this machine is dated 1919.
I think I paid too much for it at $95 as the cabinet is rather plain-looking needs a lot of refinishing work. But I really like the machine, especially the embossed metal plate on the front. The pitman arm on the treadle was broken and it was missing the belt. It came with a whole load of accessories and what looks like all the attachments according to the original manual that was also included.
The machine was fitted with the optional electric motor and pedal, which I suppose makes up for some of the extra cost.
Soon after I acquired this machine - after looking for nearly a year - the sewing machines started flooding in and I was finding great deals everywhere... isn't that the way it goes! I bought 4 more after this one. See my other postings.
Another beautiful 115 with Wings decal - 3 115's - some people like me will be very envious :D again, if you can post the full serial number, I hope I can give you a more accurate date
Serial number is G6672229.
Yeah, those of us with the least knowledge or who least appreciate it seem to have the most luck in acquiring this sort of stuff. I see it all the time as well with stuff I really prize and covet in the hands of people who don't know what they've got.
At least I've got good taste (!) since I selected these ones based primarily on appearance - mostly the embossed metal plate on the front. Now that I know more about them I'll treat the grand ladies with the respect they deserve. Promise!
lol you are right, and this one is the prize :) and I don't see them because I am in Australia where American made Singer machines are much less common than the Kilbowie (near Glasgow in Scotland) and the 115 was not made at Kilbowie.
This one is G- 6665371 6675370, model 115-1, from a batch of 10,000 January 9 1919 St. Jean, Québec.
Again, an Elizabethport machine destined for Quebec. This time the list has the sub-model, 115-1 but this doesn't mean a lot as I think it only came in the one design.
the Singer 115 manual that is on the Singer website, is not the one for this machine. Sadly the Singer website is not being run by people who know something about antique and vintage machines. This is the right one http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer-model-115-sewing-machine.html
The bobbin case is different for these but you can still get them if you need one, they're called a 20U industrial bobbin case.
This machine came with the cabinet drawers full of goodies - looks to me like all the attachments available for this model as well as needles and extra bobbins and two original manuals. One for "No. 115" like in the link you provided, and another for "Nos. 127 and 128" - it's nice to know which is the proper manual now, although it was not to hard to tell by the illustrations.
Finally! I’ve found someone with a machine like mine! Same paint and everything! My serial number is G6669938. I’ve had it serviced and it was running perfectly fine for me. But right now I’m having an issue with the thread skipping stitches, and I’m sure it’s something I’m doing wrong with the tension or loading the bobbin. I’m wondering if you know of any resources like YouTube videos (or someone I can learn from!!) so I can teach myself to properly adjust and load the machine. Thanks so much!
Hi, Mrskongo. :-)
Yes, if the serial number on yours is indeed G6669938, that would put it in the same allotment batch of 10,000 as the one in this post, so it makes sense that it's not merely the same model, but the same decal set, etc.:
G- 6665371 6675370 115-1 10000 January 9 1919
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-g-series-serial-numbers.html
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal32
https://d33wubrfki0l68.cloudfront.net/83ff29e07a6af01508286e3ec98a27cc4801d8ee/c8730/images/gallery/gf15k-240x360.jpg
https://d33wubrfki0l68.cloudfront.net/b7e3cfd4685511166034220f5f9f0abddd2ff21a/f6706/images/gallery/gf15k-02-240x360.jpg
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
The Singer model 115 actually occupies an interesting little corner of Singer history, because its ancestry has both Singer model 15 and Wheeler & Wilson model 9:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/115
Bernadette thought that batch was made at the St John's factory. I don't know if the information at ISMACS has changed, but I don't see it there. Also, if you do the math at the singersewinginfo UK site, there are about 40,000 serial numbers unaccounted for in terms of factory providence. Hmmm.
Bernadette was probably right (she was very knowledgeable), but I'll give you links for both the St. John's and Elizabethport factories:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/stjohns
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/elizabethport
I'll also give you a more direct link to the instruction manual:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-model-115-sewing-machine-manual.pdf
As to your machine skipping stitches where previously it hadn't: vintage sewing machine enthusiast Elizabeth had that problem, and it turned out to be a defective needle:
http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2013/11/singer-115.html
If that isn't the problem with yours, you might ask the folks at the quiltingboard forum, as they are generally very knowledgeable. Here is a thread in which, among other things, a drop test on a Singer 115 bobbin case is described:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/singer-115-help-t300291.html
They also have an interface for asking questions:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/sendmessage.php
Good luck. :-)
This is absolutely everything I could ask for and more. Thank you so much for such an incredibly detailed response!!
Mrskongo, You're quite welcome. :-)
I'm not actually a vintage sewing machine expert, but rather just an old Internet surfer.
I don't know whether your machine is installed in the same cabinet, but if it is, that's a variation on Cabinet Tables No. 5 and No. 6:
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/5-6_cab.html
It's probably newer than the ones depicted at that ISMACS link, because it lacks the fancy embossing. I actually like the 'Shaker plain' style of the newer ones.
Here's one more link for you:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/285089-vintage-sewing-machine-help
It's just a collection of vintage sewing machine links I've put together over the last couple of years, and it's a work in progress.
There are links in there for more vintage sewing machine sites, so if the folks at the quilting board forum can't help you, you could try the folks at the victoriansweatshop forum, or one of the others listed.
I tend to 'pick on' the folks at the quiltingboard forum, not only because they're so knowledgeable, but because they have that handy contact interface.
D'oh! >8-0
I looked at that singersewinginfo UK page for the Singer model 115 again, and now see that the pertinent block of serial numbers is indeed in there for the St. John's factory. If I could only learn to read.