and ANOTHER gorgeous treasure from EmilyKate, whose collection I really wish I could see in person.
Love it, hate it, or something in between? Definitely love at first sight. This is a simple but utterly reliable machine that runs beautifully and smoothly. I can service it myself and expect that with proper care it will last until the next century as it is all metal, inside and out. The motor would conk out long before any of the gears or parts wear out, and it can even be converted to a treadle machine if what they say about the world's energy all running out is true.
When did you buy this sewing machine? About five years ago.
When was it manufactured? It's a Centennial-model 15-90 Singer, which means it came out to commemorate the hundredth year of business for the Singer sewing machine company. I believe they had been making this particular model since the 20s but this actual machine would have been first sold in 1950. It has a little commemorative badge on the front and is somewhat collectable to those in the know, but certainly does not command super-high prices on eBay or at antique stores.
Where did you buy it? An opshop in South Yarra, Melbourne (Australia), that I was always finding fantastic haberdashery bargains at -- it has sadly now closed.
How much did you pay for it? $50 Australian. It was in perfect condition, with its bentwood cover unscratched and undented. Its original accessory box was tucked inside with a few feet and bobbins.
How many projects have you done on this machine? I bought this little beauty mainly for her looks, but thought she'd also come in handy as a backup if my regular machine was in for repairs for a long period. I soon discovered that her beautiful straight stitch and strong motor make her an indispensable little workhorse in her own right! I have sewn denim, shirts, skirts, and home dec projects -- pretty much everything. Nowadays, since I have picked up several mechanical buttonhole-making attachments, I keep her pretty much permanently set up as a buttonhole machine.
Describe the kind of work you've done with it. ALL my buttonholes get done on this machine, obviously using one of the buttonhole attachments I've collected. Many sewists agree that buttonholes made on these vintage machines using the old-school buttonhole attachments are superior to the buttonholes that can be made with newer machines, and they are without a doubt more consistent in size and shape; but I'll tell you about the buttonhole attachments in another review!
Singer machines of this era are sought-after by quilters because their narrow feed-dogs and narrow straight-stitching foot make it easy to sew perfect quarter-inch seams. I haven't made any quilts on mine but I might in future.
What do you like and what do you hate about it? It's very large, and being all-metal is slightly heavier than the average boat anchor. But she's not going anywhere so that doesn't matter.
I just dug out my 1948 Singer and reoiled and cleaned it. I used this in a shop making alterations because it could sew anything, including putting in jean zippers and sewing fur collars. I recently handwove several yards of wool, sewed a jacket and fretted so about the buttonholes. My old Singer buttonholer with the templates did a really beautiful job! I learned to sew on a similar Singer when I was a child about 45 years ago, and collected many Singers over the years, including a Featherweight and a treadle, which I restored. I love the vintage Singers, and just discovered and bought an 1889 puzzle box over the weekend. My "newer" Singer that I bought about 35 years ago with the plastic gears wore out, but I don't think my 1948 Singer will ever wear out.
Posted by: CJ | January 07, 2009 at 04:46 PM