15-91 Singer Sewing Machine is back
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My 15-91 may not look shiny and spiffy but she is beautiful to me and working again!
I took my machine into Neal’s this morning…..boy is this a heavy machine to lug around…..and I told him how the sewing machine had just stopped and we checked the electrical stuff and there didn’t seem to be any power. He asked me if the light worked….I said not for some time so we didn’t check that way. I told him I thought maybe the motor was shot and he was doubtful as in all his years working on sewing machines there has only been 1 time that a motor was shot.
Right away I told him how after we disconnected the foot to get the machine out of the cabinet and then reconnected it the wheel would only turn half way either direction which hadn’t happened before.
Well……he kind of smiled and asked if we turned it on it’s side when it was out of the cabinet……no we didn’t. Then he tilted it and it turned perfectly……I didn’t know there is a part that hits on the bottom if it isn’t in a cabinet or box. Whew…..one less worry.
Then he pluggeded it in and guess what????? The machine ran perfectly! So did my 15-91 just want the day off or to go for a ride? You can’t imagine how tickled I was and he didn’t charge me anything either! I did buy a belt for another 15 Singer and some oil.
Funny story…..when we walked by the sewing machines there sat the Sapphire sewing machine like I bought 2 years ago and I told him I still couldn’t get used to it as it seemed so bulky compared to the old machines. He just kept saying “Get used to it!” I think I’ll keep it for my fancy stitches and zig-zag for now.
When I got home I immediately lugged my 15-91 up to my room…..which at the moment is overflowing with my backups. This has taught me an important lesson though….when you have backups make sure you use them once in awhile! It isn’t pictured but I pulled out a 15 Singer I bought last summer at a garage sale. At the time I tried it and it worked fine…of course I only used it about 10 minutes. Well, yesterday when I went to use it something wasn’t right…..the belt had separated.
I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful comments and help I received since my last post. I spent almost all day and night yesterday on the internet learning a great deal about my machine, finding lots of fabulous information and talking with Michele who is always so helpful! I am definitely going to get a page together with Vintage info on it!
I also bought another 15-91 Singer on Ebay……more on that one when I get it!
My internet is barely moving today so I’m way behind on answering emails, boy a stressful couple of days! Think it is time for a nice cold Peppermint Schnapps and water!
Don't know how I missed this post, but I'm so glad your machine is back and all is well. Thanks for the tip on using all of your machines, I'll have to do that.
Oh Phew! Bet you're feeling relieved to have your baby back! Good idea to occasionally use some of the other machines. I have a few vintage ones mostly human powered though. They do weigh a ton!!
Sew glad to hear your machine only needed a little vacation. We depend on our (favorite) machines so much and worry when we can't use them for whatever reason…
Glad your 'baby' turned out to be ok. What a relief and I'll bet that drink washed the relief down real well!
Glad to know all is well with your favorite baby.
I have a Singer 99K and it goes like a dream. Congrats on getting yours 'healthy' again. Cheers, Karen
Glad you have your machine back up and working well , I have three machines similar to yours , one has 99K but not sure where to look for the number of the other two, but have never used them ,they are just on display.Maybe I should get at least one up and running.
My Babylock was like that – it just up & quit running. Wouldn't do ANYthing. Let it sit overnight, still nothing. Packed it all up, took it 30 miles down the road, plugged it in to show the man, and yup, you guessed it, worked like a champ.
After another year & about $200 in labor charges trying to get its ailment diagnosed, I (MYSELF, at NO CHARGE!) have determined it's either the foot pedal, the foot pedal wire, or the hole into which the foot pedal wire goes that is the problem. What makes me think so? Because I'll be going along sewing fine, he stops, I scootch the foot pedal or yank on its wire a little, and presto, he goes another stitch or 2. Soooo frustrating…I finally broke down & ordered me a new foot pedal. Hoping it fixes the problem once and for all!!
I sold my only "backup" machine to go to the Houston Quilt Market show last year, so I have to make it work!! 🙂
Your house blocks look very cozy & cheery!
Yay!!! Happy Day, Happy Day! So, did you ever find out why the power quit?
Are you doing the "Happy Dance" now that your
machine is home and running? I'm glad it was nothing serious.
The blocks are pretty.
Hugs,
Susan
Hip, hip, hoooooray!
Great news on your machine!
Isn't Michelle a huge help? She has taught me a lot!
I loved my old Singer and wish I still had it for a back-up. Glad yours is up and running. Love the colors in your Think Christmas block–can't wait to see all of it!
I think I need to get an old Singer! I too have a Sapphire 850. I had a heck of a time for the first few month, especially with the tension. If I could have taken it back I would have, I bought it used. Eventually, I worked thru all of it's little problems and now love it. Love your house blocks!
I am sooooo glad your machine is back and working. I don't have a machine case for mine (just the table) although nice ones are available from Cindy at Stitches in Time as well as a few other people. When I do take mine out of the table to take it on a trip with me, I roll up some washcloths and set the "legs" of the machine on them so that it's elevated enough to sew. It didn't even occur to me that might have been the issue with your machine. It's good yu have other machines to use too. Thanks for the reminder that I need to use my other machines as well.
so glad Connie that your machine is humming along again,great blocks,well done.xx
I'm glad to hear that your best friend is feeling okay. I have a Sapphire 870Q. It took me a long time to get used to it, but I really like it now. I would like to own a Featherweight so I am always on the lookout.
Those old Singers are wonderful machines!! Glad you got it going again!
Holy smokes! I thought I had a lot of machines and I only have 4. One of mine is a serger, though.
Happy to hear your baby is OK! Can't wait to see the new vintage baby you've added!
Hooray! I'm so glad your machine is feeling better. Or being less ornery – whichever it it. 🙂
So great that your machine is back in business!
Oh, so glad you have your baby back. 😀
I thought I spied a Sapphire back there against your wall. I bought an 850 three years ago because of the wide throat and I got a deal I couldn't resist just before the new models came out. Thought it would be great for quilting. We've had a love/hate relationship going for a couple years, but for some reason we have just clicked over the past few months. Now I am getting the best results for both FMQing and straight walking foot quilting. I really like using it now.
Yaay! I am so glad it is working again.
Of course when I saw how many machines you have, I laughed. I am just as bad. I have six, seven if you count the serger, but I only sew on two of them normally and embroider on the third one. I do have my Featherweight just in case I need to grab a machine to take with me somewhere (for example, if Mom needs some mending done)
And I have my original , very first machine that I got just after I got out of high school so I could make my own shirts. (I learned to sew and follow a pattern in Family Life in high school.) That machine is still working, but I rarely use it. It does straight and zigzag but that is it.
With so many machines around, how do you sew? Looks like our class room when everyone is set up. Oh you are the first one I have seen working on the Christmas Village BOM – I just have the applique block to do – not my favorite methods so that's why it's last.
Your blocks look great! Glad the machine is back up and running today!
So happy to hear that your 'baby' is up and running again Connie!
Adorable house blocks and can't wait to see those Christmas blocks (loving the batiks I see!)
Have a great week :o)
Your house blocks look great!