Exactly! My 50's Olympia does the same thing. They are just so quiet and make such a pretty stitch. And fast!

This is my blue Wizard machine... 15 clone, obviously. I believe these were made in Japan for Montgomery Ward stores to sell, around 1950, although the motor on it is a Champion, made in USA. This is a machine I'd like to sell. Just haven't had time to clean it up really well, tho it seems to sew just fine as is. The motor belt has just recently broken.

Mercury Electric Dial-O-Matic
 

Caroline, I like that face plate! Very pretty machine. Don't those sew nice?

Love that Mercury! That's one interesting little critter. Quite a variety of design components and that great shine make it a sweetheart.

I love them all, like a kid in a candy store, face pressed against my monitor checking out the detail.

That Mercury is a pretty machine. I like her faceplate and the decals. They are really pretty. Is it a 3/4 size machine?

No, she is a full sized gal and very heavy.

OK, now I see it. I think I was looking at the first picture and thought the harp space was smaller. With the foot control there, it does look smaller, and then I look at the second one and I can see just how big the harp space is. Is the harp space in the Singer 15 larger than the 66, or is there a difference? Which Singer has the largest harp space, do you know? I'm wondering just in case I want to machine quilt and want the largest space to do it in.

Hmmm, I may have to run to get my measuring tape to determine if the harp space is the same as the Singer 15 or 66. I am thinking that they are about the same. The Mercury does have a reduced harp space because of the cast in light housing which reduces the height about one inch. A good piecing machine but not so sure at this point about quilting anything very large.

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I picked up another clone the other day. It was advertised 'motor turns but machine doesn't' - well I figured the clutch was disengaged... I opened up the case - this was so not rocket science... there was no belt on the motor. So I checked the clutch, put on a belt, plugged it in. WHEE the motor turns all right. This machine had a Kenmore motor, wires and foot control. I pulled them off for future examination. Then I cleaned and oiled the machine. This one has Ricar stamped on the under side. The machine's name is Challenge... LOL... smirk...

You're not kidding - getting the needle in correctly is a challenge. I finally made a spreadsheet that I keep handy in my sewing room with basic information on my machines so that I am not digging in the manuals each time I use one of the machines. I have about 13 machines that I use and the needles can sit three different ways and thus they needed threaded three different ways. The vertical bobbin fits in some cases with thread clockwise and others in counter-clockwise. Same with the horizontal bobbin; some go in clockwise and others go in counter-clockwise. Finally, the flywheels on all of my electrics and most of the treadles are turned counter-clockwise; the WW9 is turned clockwise! I was going nuts with all of the differences and I was wearing out all of the manuals - LOL.

This is what I have been thinking of doing. I wasn't sure if I should use a small notebook with divided sections for each machine or use a recipe box and use index cards for each machine. I don't know how to do a spreadsheet ;) so it's the 'old fashioned' way for me!

I am going to do a spreadsheet as Judy described and put it in a plastic sheet protector. One thing I would add would be the needle size.

You don't need a spread sheet. Singer 301 and FW needles insert flat on the left and thread right to left all else go the other way for slide plates going side ways. If it is a front loader the needle goes flat on the part to the back most of the time this will work. However there are exceptions, look at the shuttle race the bobbin goes in. The curve of the needle goes next to the hook - true on ALL machines. You can get some clue by looking at the thread guides. It is frustrating when you get it wrong - ask me how I know...

Yes Miriam, my mother was a home-ec teacher and she told me to look at the last thread guide next to the needle and that showed the way it was threaded.

This is the method I use to insert the needle.

So, does a 115 qualify as a 15 clone :) No pictures of our 15s yet but here's the 115:

sure looks like one doesn't it? Can you tell us the difference?

Miriam, the 115 is a rotary hook. As far as I know that's the only difference (well, the 115 doesn't seem to have lasted in production as long and it's not as common - we just got lucky.)

It sure looks the same on the outside. I wonder what other changes? I have a New Home sorta looks like a clone too. I need to look it over some more.

It wouldn't be a clone if it predates the 15 and clones are copycats that are fashioned after Singers, not Singers, but it sure is a gorgeous machine. You were fortunate to find her.

I don't think it predates the 15 - ISMACS lists it being produced from 1912 which postdates the 15's introduction by a quite a bit. I was kind of joking about the clone part but in some ways it fully qualifies. I imagine they used the 15 as the base for the 115 since it was already a vertical bobbin so all they needed was to change the the hook driver/setup.

Miriam, here are some pictures of the bobbin area sans bobbin case on both the 115 and 15. Note that I don't yet know if the 115 is complete in this area! The 115 is the first shot, a 15-91 is the second.

You're right. My 128 is newer than a 28.

Are the faceplates interchangable? The machine I'm looking at has a plain one and I'd love to replace it with one of fancy scrolled ones.
thanks

wow those are so cool

How did I miss this thread? Thank you for starting it Miriam, because I think I now know what the deal is with this sewing machine!!!

After looking over this thread I believe the first two pictures might be of a dusty 15 clone (the rotten little machine that started this whole old sewing machine obsession!!!) that fell into my hands several years ago and I couldn't find a lick of information on. I don't know what happened to the tension dial...I'm not sure it was ever there. I love the faceplate on this machine though, isn't it gorgeous?

The last picture is of an actual Singer 15 treadle from 1906 that the Husband purchased for me. Aren't I lucky? ;)

Pumpkin, you can get tensions for that - here is a manual so you know how to put it together. I just love that manual - I have learned so much!!! http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/ everything about that manual is good

Oh wonderful thank you for the link! Because this machine is sort of the clunker of my collection I think I may have removed it myself...I have a cabinet in my sewing area that I keep baggies of parts in! EEP!! I probably should start labeling those baggies now that my collection is increasing into the twenties! About a year ago I got a bug up my butt that I wanted to see what the tension looked like when pulled apart...I suppose I could have just looked online couldn't I? But what fun is that? As soon as the baby falls asleep I'm going to head off into the other room and see if it's in there...

I think I was about 16 when I took apart a tension. I sure wish I would have had that manual back then... It is very hard to cobble one together out of spare parts for that machine - ask me how I know.

Soaking up all the great information and thank-you all for sharing all your beauties...very nice.
dee

I have had two clones and I loved them both for many reasons. The first one I bought was a Green Ambassador. I have seen green clones here and Ambassadors too but not a green Ambassador. I found it at an Estate sale and got it for less than the $10 asking price. It needed nothing but oil. The second machine was a blue Universal. I did sell the blue one. Both sewed beautifully and were/are great machines. I have been fixing machines ever since I had such a positive experience working on the Ambassador. I have restored, refurbished and repaired about 50 machines of all makes and types now and Clones as a group are still my favorite for their simplicity, durability, reliability and ease of use. The fact that they lay down such a nice stitch and are very reasonably priced helps too. But I just love the colors they came in.[ATTACH=CONFIG]372484[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]372483[/ATTACH]

Now I want one. These are all so special. It would be hard to choose a favorite

I agree. The clones are still one of my favorites... I really like that green one. Have you seen any with out any name? I have two with no names. Both black and have the same decorating - just nothing on them to identify.

Thank you. I have seen several. In many different colors and in black. Some have screw holes. Some have holes for rivets. And others have no holes at all and are decal machines. And the holes are spaced differently too. You can always get vinyl letters cut out at a sign shop for next to nothing and put your own name on it or a saying that you like. If you want it on permantly you can clear coat the letters right in or have a sign lettering/ pinstriping shop do it too. With the vinyl you can change them with your mood or season. I have a friend that is buying a machine from me that has no name on it. I am going to ask if she wants her name or initials put on it in vinyl letters where the name of the machine used to be.

Great idea.

Didn't see this sooner. All you can do is try - I've done it and it worked. Actually quite fun.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...n-t164335.html

Never knew there were so many different sewing machines out there! The are beautiful.

so many different yet so much in common

Here is one of my favorites. She looks like a juke box and a 57 Chevy eloped. Her name is Chevrolet![ATTACH=CONFIG]374436[/ATTACH]