JoeJr

Hello everyone, it's been quite some time since I've posted about a "new" machine; without getting into all the details health issues have dictated a change of hobbies. But someone gave me this machine a few months back and I finally started tackling it.

It's a Singer 15 clone, I'm going to guess from the early to mid 1950s. The machine itself was not super dirty, but the bottom of the case, under the machine, was covered in mouse droppings (I should have worn a mask just to vacuum it). There are the stains on the bed, almost in a pattern, and they appear to be under the clear, hard finish on this machine; you might be able to tell that from the 2nd picture. I tried several things to clean, including a commercial degreaser, but all I did was clean the hard finish. If anyone has thoughts I would appreciate it.

I was surprised to see some of the parts marked "Brother" and with part numbers, which I don't recall seeing on any 15 clones before. Also, something I have seen before on a few machines, including a Kenmore from the 70s, the feed dog drop mechanism on the underside was secured with a cotter pin such that the knob would not turn to drop the dogs. Any thoughts on why that might be?

I still have to clean the case, and I am not sure what I will do with this machine.

bkay

Might that be surface rust on the machine bed (under the clear coat)?

That looks like it would make a good everyday sewing machine, or a good backup machine for someone.

bkay.

JoeJr

A backup to the backup to the backup to the backup to the backup machine??

There was really no rust anywhere else, but plenty of old oil. Maybe I'll never know.

BonnieJP

Could those marks be burns from a cigarette?

JoeJr

At first look burns seems possible, but then someone would have had to clear coat over them. I'm pretty sure the clear coat is factory, it's too evenly laid. Maybe oil soaked through the coating; it's the apparent pattern that has me puzzled.

Farmhousesewer

Joe,
I was finally able to access my machine. It is like yours, but has a table extension. I converted to a handcrank. It toi has a cotter pin. The feed dog knob works just fine.
It has a cotter pin connecting parts of the drop feed mechanism. If the knob is not working, you can move the mechanism parts underneath to get it going.
I have pictures, but they are too big. I am on a Samsung tablet and having problem finding method to reduce picture size.

JoeJr

The feed dog drop mechanism works with the cotter pin in place? Hmmm now I'm wondering if the cotter pin is to prevent the rod that drops the dogs from backing out too far if the drop knob is turned too far. I'd better put in a new cotter pin and test it. Thanks.

JoeJr

In case anyone is wondering what we're talking about with the cotter pin, here are some pictures. First is the entire length of the rod from the feed dog drop knob to the connection to the feed dogs. Second is the rod in the "dogs down" position (no cotter pin); you can see a spring on the inside. Third is the rod in the "dogs up" position with the cotter pin in.

I think lowering the feed dogs compresses the spring against the cotter pin, providing some force to raise the feed dogs all the way when the knob is turned back to "up". Assuming this to be the intent I reinserted a cotter pin with the dogs up, spring not compressed.

Farmhousesewer

Yes, yes, yes