Wednesday, July 10, 2013

STILL A MYSTERY TO ME

I brought the Mystery Singer home with me today.  I spent some time on line trying to figure out what it is.  I don't know some of the terminology so if anyone out there reads this and knows what this machine is, please let me know.

It is a class 15, for sure.  I had pretty much decided that it was an Improved Family but it doesn't have the built in bobbin case.  It has the regular old class 15 one oclock finger bobbin case.

It has a very beefy looking race assembly. 
from the front

from the rear  
It is not a big machine. 
But it is a dirty machine.

I got distracted and spent a fair amount of time trying to bring out the colors in the decals.  They are tender.  There is some green but I think it is very fragile.  Only Yoda would have been young at 123.

More research and more fun is in store.  The slip cover project may take a back seat to this one.

14 comments:

  1. The delicate decals are really lovely! I've yet tosee another machine like this!! Wonder what the stitches will look like??

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  2. Still a guess, but since it doesn't have pin rash it was more likely to have been industrial than a home use machine.

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  3. Is that big wheel with blunt teeth (that you see from the back view) the "feed" wheel (or whatever you call it?)

    I think you need a vacation to DC to spend a week researching in the Smithsonian.

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    1. It could be the feed wheel. Don't know. When I don't have to do YKW (You Know What) I will be able to spend some time with it. Maybe Saturday. Want to come over?

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    2. I would LOVE to come over. But summertime is when I put on my other "hat" because my army of thousands of plants demands my attention. If you get the machine going - I could use a good straw hat!

      I do love coming in from the field, tired and dirty, to check out your fantastic blog and dream of cooler days with screwdrivers and triflow instead of mattocks and shovels. but you also can't beat producing 80% of everything we eat that's organic, fresh and DEElish!

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  4. Where are you looking for lack of pin rash?

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    1. I think on the arm. See how the SINGER Logo is not damaged as in many other machines?

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    2. About pin rash on industrial machine use. It all depends on what the machine operator is doing - sewing through leather and straw (as suggested by the roller foot and blunt feed teeth) would never involve pins but sewing clothing and other thin cloth applications often involves pins for markers and the operators will have pin nests wrapped around the arm of the machine for the rapid removal of the pins as the needle approaches 'the mark.' I have 2 commercial machines (used for clothing) and both have pin rash.

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  5. Of COURSE you brought it home! How could you not? Fascinating machine.

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  6. Maybe it's an Improved Manufacturing. Here is a link to a picture on Ismacs:
    http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/model-list/images0-99/imp_manuf_pkn.jpg

    According to Ismacs, "Originally 'fiddle' base. Base (of most models) = 19 1/2" x 8 1/2". "It is larger and stronger than the IF (Improved Family), but light running and with more room under the arm..." Parts were available to convert machine to alternating presser, wheel feed, roller presser etc. Became the Class 16."

    You have the wheel feed and roller presser version (if this is the correct machine)

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    1. Yes except that it is smaller than that. There definitely is NOT more room under the arm. Must be a smaller version; i.e. not one of the "most models".

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  7. Or maybe it's an I.F. like you first said. It looks like it will be fun to play with!

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    1. Not an I.F. different bobbin case and bobbins, even.

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