Question about 15-91

IF you were in a repair shop and seen a cute little 15-91 sitting in a generic plastic cabinet with just a couple of extra attachments - what would you pay for it??????

Scroll work is BEAUTIFUL.......sews like a dream.

If it was in a repair shop I'd assume it had been thoroughly gone over, cleaned, adjusted and lubbed, the motor brushes replaced, and that the wiring was perfect, in which case I'd say $100-$150.

-Irene

Hi Cindy -- I've seen pristine 15-91, intact scrollwork, sell on ebay for around $300. A warning though; if the machine has been improperly stored it could have some serious issues, rust being the cause of many of them. It took over $400 just to get my aunt's 15-91 back up to snuff after her daughter borrowed it and stored it in a garage over one summer.

But you can probably have confidence that this is not the case with this particular one, since it's in a repair shop.

I really can't say how much I'd pay. I'd definitely pay $300 for a good, solid one. Whatever you pay, if you lurrrve it, it will not be too much and you won't regret it.

Just for fun, write down the serial number and go to the Singer website. You can glean a lot of info. about the machine, where it was mfged, when it was mfged, and how many were made that year, etc.

Sherry

Cindy, You might want to check

for a 15-91 (or anything else for that matter). They function much like ebay but I think the starting prices are far better. Most locations seem to be NW portion of the country but shipping seems to be reasonable and they typically have a reasonable number of older machines. Read the descriptions - most are tested to at least work but at $15-20 do you care if it has a foot pedal or attachements (although most are complete) when you compare to to other sources? I'm currently serger shopping there. Just a thought. I love older machines -wish I had more room.

Kim in NJ

Goodwill has a Janome Gem sewing machine at a $19 bid! The 1/4 in. foot on it sells for more than that. Sheesh!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Cindy, You might want to check

for a 15-91 (or anything else for that matter). They function much like ebay but I think the starting prices are far better. Most locations seem to be NW portion of the country but shipping seems to be reasonable and they typically have a reasonable number of older machines. Read the descriptions - most are tested to at least work but at $15-20 do you care if it has a foot pedal or attachements (although most are complete) when you compare to to other sources? I'm currently serger shopping there. Just a thought. I love older machines -wish I had more room.

Kim in NJ

Wow, my estimate maaaaaybe was a bit high. You can tell I have a special affinity for that model! :-) When I bought my Pfaff, the dealer asked if I was interested in trading my 15-91. I really felt like he was asking if I wanted to trade off one of my kids. :-)

Sherry

Well, I like the hunt and I am kind of cheap. There was a time when lots of machines were all over the place here. I kind of got desensitized. Even feather weights have really gone down in value, a lot. Any old machine is worth what you are willing to pay for it. Might be $100 or maybe $10. Might depend on what you have handy money wise or how bad someone needs to unload it. Machines are tough on Ebay because the shipping costs have gotten so crazy the last couple of years. Taria

Wow, my estimate maaaaaybe was a bit high. You can tell I have a special affinity for that model! :-) When I bought my Pfaff, the dealer asked if I was interested in trading my 15-91. I really felt like he was asking if I wanted to trade off one of my kids. :-)

Sherry

Howdy!

Do you want it?

Several years ago we saw one in a nice cabinet at a junk shop in Dallas; husband was as interested as I was, so he went back & got it for me, $75. It works (cord needed to be replaced but he fixed it), and it's in great shape, details on the machine shine. It's been worth it for the entertainment value, friends (& repairmen ) see it & are drawn to it, some examine it, remember growing up w/ something similar. Meanwhile, it makes a nice stitch, doesn't talk too loudly while sewing, and the cabinet opens to a pretty work & display surface.

So, Cindy, do you want it? Do you need a treat for being in GA when you'd rather be in MO?

R/Sandy

Ok so now I'm really confused. Dollar amounts of $25 up to $300. I don't know what to do now. I wasn't in the market for a new machine. Just browsing while he was looking at mine and he pointed out this little cutie.

I've never seen any at our local Goodwill's or any garage sales for that matter.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So how much do they want for it? Go buy it if you can afford it and you want it. Taria

Well, let me backtrack a little; because overall I am sure Taria's estimate is closer to reality. The one I mentioned for $300 was pristine. Just absolutely pristine without even cosmetic scratches that could be noticed. It was in a (maple?) French provincial cabinet that likewise looked never-used. You don't seem to see those cabinets near as often. And that's all well and good, but there's something a little creepy about a 60 year old machine that looks that good, no? Sherry

NOoo, Sherry. Not creepy. It was probably just a well-intentioned gift to Mama when what she really wanted was a Harley or dentures that fit. Polly

"Sherry" Well, let me backtrack a little; because overall I am sure Taria's estimate is closer to reality. The one I mentioned for $300 was pristine. Just absolutely pristine without even cosmetic scratches that could be noticed. It was in a (maple?) French provincial cabinet that likewise looked never-used. You don't seem to see those cabinets near as often. And that's all well and good, but there's something a little creepy about a 60 year old machine that looks that good, no? Sherry

Heh. I should have answered that myself. My mom's 15-91 (that I have now)...is/was in pristine condition too, until I got it. Daddy bought it for her in 1951 -- his mother (my granny) was a wonderful seamstress and I'm sure he thought it was the perfect gift for the new bride. I never remember my mother using it, except to mend things and she did plenty of grumbling under her breath (I'd catch the word "tension" a lot) when she did that. Granny continued to make our clothing and the 15-91 sat in the living room with a vase of plastic roses on top of the lovely maple cabinet. Mama was an outdoorsy girl. When she died in 1976, she really owned only two things of value, her wedding rings and that machine. I wanted the machine and my sister wanted the rings. I always wished mama and granny were still around to see me win the quilt show last year. They'd be shocked. The story goes that when he bought the machine, they sent home the wrong stool. The stool that goes with the cabinet was maple, and had curved legs. Mama never did make the exchange for some reason, and I have looked everywhere for that stool to match my cabinet. Someday I hope to find it. The stool that I have has drops of paint all over it -- Mama liked to do things herself, and painting the inside of the house was one of them. I guess we couldn't afford a step ladder back then, :-) Sorry for the rambling. Nice memories.

Sherry

You know, your mama and g'ma just might have been looking down on you and your quilt show win. I sure hope so anyway. We were/are all very proud of you. : ) Taria

Heh. I should have answered that myself. My mom's 15-91 (that I have now)...is/was in pristine condition too, until I got it. Daddy bought it for her in 1951 -- his mother (my granny) was a wonderful seamstress and I'm sure he thought it was the perfect gift for the new bride. I never remember my mother using it, except to mend things and she did plenty of grumbling under her breath (I'd catch the word "tension" a lot) when she did that. Granny continued to make our clothing and the 15-91 sat in the living room with a vase of plastic roses on top of the lovely maple cabinet. Mama was an outdoorsy girl. When she died in 1976, she really owned only two things of value, her wedding rings and that machine. I wanted the machine and my sister wanted the rings. I always wished mama and granny were still around to see me win the quilt show last year. They'd be shocked. The story goes that when he bought the machine, they sent home the wrong stool. The stool that goes with the cabinet was maple, and had curved legs. Mama never did make the exchange for some reason, and I have looked everywhere for that stool to match my cabinet. Someday I hope to find it. The stool that I have has drops of paint all over it -- Mama liked to do things herself, and painting the inside of the house was one of them. I guess we couldn't afford a step ladder back then, :-) Sorry for the rambling. Nice memories.

Sherry

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OK, my 2 cents.

Mine was free, all decals perfect, French provincial cabinet, cabinet needs some polish. It's almost as old as me!

But I had to wait for DMIL to downsize, 15 years. She knew that I wanted it.

I runs fine hasn't been serviced in the last 30 years, and needs cleaned and lubed. Has all original attachments (yes they used to come with the machine), button hole thing, book, etc. I have used it to mend things for her, at her request, in her home.

Bonnie, Middletown, VA

Those attachments look very intimidating to me. One day I am going to get the book out and figure them out. If you do the same, I'd love to hear a report! (Such a contraption for ruffling!)

Sherry

I have actually used most, if not all, of those attachments. Actually I have worn out a ruffler in the past. They are fun to use, but do need some practice. Love my narrow hemmer feet, and the ruffler is great too. The binding attachment works on stuff that is not too thick, but isn't as quick as the standard quilt binding ("French" binding) technique. Some of the other attachments/feet don't have a lot of practical uses because of changes in availability of notions and such. But it is fun to play with them.

Have fun, Pati, >