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My latest addition.....
Found this (heavy) all metal Kenmore made in Japan at Goodwill for $8. Side and front plate missing and bobbin case flopped out. Laid it on its back and luckily after many attempts the bobbin case clicked in place. This machine sews silently and smoothly....like a dream. [ATTACH=CONFIG]499619[/ATTACH]

I have a singer featherweight that has the original receipt. Does that count? I will post picture when I get home. She sews like an angel.

I have just spent an entertaining couple of hours perusing this thread- and drooling I might add. Now I want a nicely- colored Japanese clone.

YES!!! You will love it!

Here's mine
 

I was fortunate to obtain this beauty and only had to have it rewired and serviced. I love it, but it is soooo darn heavy

They ARE heavy you need a folk lift to pick it up

Adorable machines

I know there's been a couple posts on the Mercury but I thought I'd share my machine as well (if I can remember how to post pics).

I bought her in 2008 at a local thrift shop. The shop had once been an upholstery shop and this machine was one that had been used at that time. It was just sitting up in their attic along with a huge machine used for upholstering also. I bought it for $20.

I did a little research and found out that it is a model R3L and the serial # is TA131404 and manufactured in Utsunomiya, Japan beginning in 1956.

I have cleaned and oiled her inside and out and she runs beautifully. The only thing I'm having a problem with is the bobbin stitch is either "smooth" or loopy. I can't seem to get the tension quite right.

<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/48139580@N05/6607932377/player/" width="320" height="240" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

I find it best to take the tension apart and clean it with alcohol - everything including the pin. If you need info to rebuild it look at the TFSR manual:
http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/
scroll to the tension mechanism and down load - read well before you start

I got my first one last week. Shop goodwill shipped well

I just finished a machine today that I would like to share. I got this machine not knowing if I could make it look good again, but I am happy with how it came out. I was afraid that it had a lot of surface rust. I was wrong. It was just some grime. I think it came out great.

Front now that it is done.
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Front before and after.
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Back before and after.
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~Grant~

Beautiful Wizard Grant! It reminds me of an old Ford Thunderbird. I always think of cars when I see these machines. I bet it sees as nice as it looks too.

Grant -

Check out post #515 of this thread!

Wesing, That was another machine just like this one that I did too. It was my post.
~Grant~

Love these. Wish I had saved my old one.

Yes I remembered thinking Thunderbird on that post too. I thought it was an older post, but went back and found it and thought it was funny that you had worked on both of these "twins." Do you still have the other one? You should take a few pics of them together if you do.

I worked on an Edison clone yesterday. It was VERY dirty and didn't spin freely. The Edison decal was coming off so I scraped it slightly and got all of it off the used buffing compound and she looks Amish. Once I got it cleaned up enough that it felt ok to touch, I took apart the tension and put in a new spring since the old one was sprung way out of shape. The bobbin area was easy to clean as usual for a clone. Then I took the spring off the bobbin case - I'm so glad I did - just a little bit of nasty dried on oil. The machine needed considerable amounts of oil before it turned very well. When it finally did turn is spins VERY freely. I haven't test sewn yet - it still needs a working motor. Typical clone.

I have a dressmaker Deluxe zigzag made in japan modelswa 2000. I want to know if a walking foot will fit it and what kind because I might try to quilt with it thank you you all are so good to answer questions.

back in th 1960s I bought a Sunflower sewing machine for the cabinet I threw away the machine and I used the cabinet and still do have it the drawers have sunflowers carved in them and the iron legs have sunflowers in them I wish I would have saved the machine but to soon old. Have anyone ever seen a sunflower machine I liked the drawers for the S carving as my name begins with S. I remember the machine as having lots of gold decals on it.

Thanks everyone for sharing your machines with me :)

Grant, it's getting to the point where I can identify your work before I read a word. It's like my husband and his handgun trigger jobs. Twenty guns, pull through the triggers and I can separate his out in a heartbeat. You have no idea what a compliment this is. He is nationally renowned for his trigger jobs.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making these sweet machines not only function but look beautiful as well.

I am honestly humbled by your post Anette.
I try to do my very best on every machine I work on. I respect them in ways that I bet you husband does the guns he works on. Thank you for your kind words. I love what I do and I hope it shows. I think you implied that it does. I hope you have seen my page. I try to help as many people as I can because I got a lot of help her on the QB. I have been trying to pay it forward ever since from this site.
Best regards,
~Grant~

here is my orphan..........its a boat anchor as far as sewing.......but its a pretty color...........

I have revived worse that that. It would run just fine if it had some TLC. Some times it takes a couple hours. They usually need to have the tension cleaned and rebuilt. The bobbin case will need to be cleaned under the spring. Then it will need your normal dust bunny cleaning and some oiling. Those aren't usually very hard to remove the shuttle and clean all the lint out - about a 5 minute or less job. Some times I see a clone that will not turn. I love making them turn. Usually it takes awhile with some tri-flow. You need to oil every single part that remotely moves rotate the wheel as much as you can get it to turn as you oil. If it doesn't turn at all rotate the machine let it set for a while then oil it again. What is cool about making one turn is that they might start to turn a little but once the oil gets where the bad spot is you know it and the machine will suddenly turn and run like crazy.

I just wanted to share this from my page. I see Judy, 4dogs slideplate and it reminded me that I had not shared this here.
~Grant~

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Singer 15 and Clone Slideplate Installation made easy and no damaged paint.
1. Put two small screwdrivers under the retaining spring.
2. Put the slideplate into the slot it goes into and move it until it stops. Push the screwdrivers in until the spring can go over the end of the bed. You can also pry them up a little, but be careful not to bend or break the spring.
3. When the spring is over the end, remove the screwdrivers and slide it closed.
4. No paint chips from twisting it into position. Simple, Fast, Easy.

I'm curious whether all of you still use these machines. Does anyone make anything that lasts like this nowadays? My Bernina is an oldie but still sews like a dream. I assume their new ones work as well.

Selena, did the machine look like that when your son rescued her? It's BEAUTIFUL!!

I sure do. They sew through anything. Some people like them for free motion. You do have to work out the quirks.

Gorgeous machines!! I have a couple but they are in storage. Love the ones I've seen so far!

I posted info about how to do stuff with the tensions on the clones...........
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t269712.html

So thrilled to have found this site! I just posted my new acquisition (an Ambassador zig zag deluxe, yikes!) over on the Japanese badged thread, but I had to come brag on my Singer 15 clone.

I am new to sewing, let me say, so I appreciate all your advice. I have always wanted to learn, so four years ago I bought some beginner Singer machine. It was so scary, it sat in the box for two straight years! Finally, I took a class where I learned to use it, and made a few projects... in between fighting tension problems, constant jamming, and the inability to sew more than 2 thin pieces of cotton together. That machine is IMPOSSIBLE and sewing was no fun. Thankfully, along came my husband's grandfather, who asked me one day if I wanted grandma's old machine. "I've tried giving it away for years, and none of the girls will take it!" It is a turquoise 1955 Morse, with all the accessories, presser feet, case, buttonholers, and paperwork included. The Morse changed my world. It is SO easy to use, and so far has even powered through 6 layers of upholstery fabric without a hiccup. It has made me one happy sewer! I love that all grandma's information is still inside-- she died long before hubby and I were married, so it's a way to be attached to her.

Just a hint, in case anyone ever runs into a calamity like mine: in the middle of a project which HAD to be finished by the next day, the belt broke. We are in rural Montana, so the nearest possible sewing shop is 3+ hours away. My brilliant husband sent me to Ace Hardware (just an hour away) to pick up the rubber gasket for a Culligan water filtration system, which comes in three sizes. It was a slightly smaller diameter, so I bought several in case one broke, and it has held up great! Easy fix without waiting for online shipping, what a relief. Anyway, I'm going to lurk about admiring more photos of these beautiful machines. I appreciate your tips and advice, and thank you for letting me brag about the machine that has rocked my world![ATTACH=CONFIG]530218[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]530219[/ATTACH] (In case you can't read the photo, the back of the original manual has a handwritten receipt and guarantee, selling the machine and all the accessories for $135 to my husband's grandma, just a few years after they were married. Lots of sewing has been done on this machine!)

What beautiful old Machines :)

That Morse is a better made machine than anything new you could find. I doubt if you can kill it. It might be bullet proof, too. Very pretty. The other funny thing about these old clones is that they make the same straight stitch as the new very expensive machines...

Welcome mountains! Love your machine and the fact that it was your grandmothers is so wonderful. You are very lucky and the fact you are using it is great. I bet that made your Grandfather beam!

I bought a black Morse just like that the other day, it is beautiful but needs rewiring, which dh is going to do for me and look forward to using it.

One thing, years ago no one would even bother to pick up the old clones at garage sales or anywhere else, wonder how many would go into the dump at that time? They were considered to be not so good because they were from Japan. Then someone in the sewing machine world started talking about how good those machines actually were and then I think through the years more and more people have found this out. I can think of dozens in years past I past up, well at the time I didn't need a sewing machine, I had an Elna and a 301 and thought I had enough,hehehehehe. Wish I could go back and grab some of them.:)

I was blessed the other day to get a 3/4 size clone in new condition. It needs a name and I'm thinking I'm going to go to the sign shop and see what they have for decals. This one will have my grand daughter's name on it.

The name? What a great idea! I've been overwhelmed by school, teaching, and visiting here again is quite good for my heart.

[QUOTE=TheMountainsAreCalling;7311703]So thrilled to have found this site! I just posted my new acquisition (an Ambassador zig zag deluxe, yikes!) over on the Japanese badged thread, but I had to come brag on my Singer 15 clone.

I am new to sewing, let me say, so I appreciate all your advice. I have always wanted to learn, so four years ago I bought some beginner Singer machine. It was so scary, it sat in the box for two straight years! Finally, I took a class where I learned to use it, and made a few projects... in between fighting tension problems, constant jamming, and the inability to sew more than 2 thin pieces of cotton together. That machine is IMPOSSIBLE and sewing was no fun. Thankfully, along came my husband's grandfather, who asked me one day if I wanted grandma's old machine. "I've tried giving it away for years, and none of the girls will take it!" It is a turquoise 1955 Morse, with all the accessories, presser feet, case, buttonholers, and paperwork included. The Morse changed my world. It is SO easy to use, and so far has even powered through 6 layers of upholstery fabric without a hiccup. It has made me one happy sewer! I love that all grandma's information is still inside-- she died long before hubby and I were married, so it's a way to be attached to her.

Just a hint, in case anyone ever runs into a calamity like mine: in the middle of a project which HAD to be finished by the next day, the belt broke. We are in rural Montana, so the nearest possible sewing shop is 3+ hours away. My brilliant husband sent me to Ace Hardware (just an hour away) to pick up the rubber gasket for a Culligan water filtration system, which comes in three sizes. It was a slightly smaller diameter, so I bought several in case one broke, and it has held up great! Easy fix without waiting for online shipping, what a relief. Anyway, I'm going to lurk about admiring more photos of these beautiful machines. I appreciate your tips and advice, and thank you for letting me brag about the machine that has rocked my world![ATTACH=CONFIG]530218[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]530219[/ATTACH] (In case you can't read the photo, the back of the original manual has a handwritten receipt and guarantee, selling the machine and all the accessories for $135 to my husband's grandma, just a few years after they were married. Lots of sewing has been done on this machine!)[/QUOTE
Some times tri-flo will take off dried tape but if it is dried on it will take naphtha. Test first to see if it dulls your finish.

My first machine was a clone. You get a lot of machine for your money with them. I got lucky. I had absolutely NO idea what I was looking at when I bought mine, but got I a good one. I would recommend it as a first machine every time. Easy maintenance, very forgiving, needles and such are standard stuff, and easy to use.

One thing though. A proper belt is important. The "O"-Ring type are ok temporarily, but they can wear out the bearings in the motor if used long term. Keep them as spares, just in case, but for $10 a good (black V-Belt, not orange) belt will last you a decade. So, that is only a dollar a year. Splurge! :)
~Grant~

Thanks for reposting this here Miriam.

Hi! I just found this site when I googled, singer clones made in Japan. I'm so glad I found you all! I recently purchased my first vintage machine a 1957 Singer 201 in excellent condition. My Sharona, yes, I name everything, sews a perfect stitch and I'm absolutely thrilled with her. So, today we went in search of a sewing cabinet for Sharona and found one at a local thrift store. The cabinet is in very nice shape and inside we saw a little clone. I'm really new to vintage but she sure looks like a 15 clone. She needs to be rewired and the feed dogs don't come all the way up so the fabric doesn't feed. I don't know if she is worth the money it may take to rehab her but she sure is a little cutie. If nothing else, Sharona has a cabinet to sit in and I'll dust off Cloe (see? I named her already!) and sit her in Sharona's box to just be admired. Any thoughts on repairs would be most appreciated. So very happy I found this site![ATTACH=CONFIG]550512[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]550513[/ATTACH]

Your machine is set up for darning or free motion. The pressure foot nut is all the way up - it is located at the top of the machine above the pressure foot. All you have to do is push it down. Then your feed dogs have a lever on the base. Flip it to the left and you should have feed dogs ready
Somewhere on these pages are links to manuals. That might go a long ways to helping you use the machine.