1888 Singer Improved Family 15-1 Fiddle Base

 

Came across this machine on Ebay recently, listed as 'Blue Singer for Spares'. It caught my eye because it was a Fiddle Base & therefore has to be pre 1900? So I did a little online searching & came up with Singer IF. It wasn't the more common 'bullet shuttle' so I thought it might be worth a closer look. 

The listing showed it without the bobbin plate & I wondered what else could be missing? Had a refinish at some point also, a Hammered blue paint & a post WW2 case... 

Has a Hillman motor which I'd been looking for for a while, plus I'd never had a Fiddle base before. (I do have a nice 12K now though: )

 

So I took a chance & won it.

It was here in two days & very interesting to look over, especially to see what was missing. The bobbin plate was inside the box & also a couple of bobbins: ) Looked complete to me so next thing to do is see if it works.

Checking the SN for dating it turns out to be an 1888 model & the first of the venerable Singer 15s. Introduced in 1879 Model 15-1. Might be some details I don't get yet!!

So I threaded it up, found out how to insert the bobbin, & it stitched straight away. As below.

At this point I'd not even oiled it, nor changed the needle (takes standard 15x1/705 needles happily) or checked the tensions. Result is above! Stitch length is from 6 to the inch, to tiny. Top tension needs slight adjustment here. I'm turning it by hand here, no motor.

This seems unlikely to be a spares machine now, so next it will get a good clean & service.  I wanted to fit a hand crank, but the standard type won't fit, so I'll leave the motor on it for now.

This is the alloy adapter for fitting a standard motor. 

Pretty crude, but works: )

Has an interesting Long Beak bobbin case, a big access 'window' at the back & the upper tensioner is on the face plate. (No tension release!)

Shame about the paint! Thinking it might be good to refinish it again... And I'm wondering about the chromed bobbin plate, needle plate & handwheel? Must be off a later machine. I think this machine is another of the post war refurbs when there was a shortage of new machines. I have a similarly refinished 1920 Jones CS.

September 2nd 2020.

Had a closer look at it today & discovered a couple of problems...

Oiled everything & refitted the 'original' Hillman Motor & spun it over. OK at low speed, but there is wear on the slides (not sure of the names of the internal parts yet) at the Handwheel end which makes disconcerting noises at speed! 

Then I realised the motor drive pulley was way out of line with the handwheel, close to half an inch!! So I thought I'll move the motor pulley over a bit to line it up. 

No chance, the fixing grubscrew was broken across the slot! So I tried a Sewtric motor which was fine. Looking closely there is no way of adjusting the worn sliders or pins... Shouldn't be surprised after 132 years use I guess: )

Still, I think it would be OK with a hand crank, or in a treadle base. A normal hand crank would need a smaller diameter handwheel, so next job is to remove the big, heavy wheel & see what diameter the shaft is. 

I can't imagine using this machine regularly with a motor with that heavy lump of a hand wheel, it spins for ever! Might be good on a treadle though?

I'm thinking now that it may a Spares machine after all.

Update 1 Oct 2020.

Decided to refinish this one as a Hand Crank working machine in its latest 1950s case & base, suitably modified. Decided on a white, light finish with some flower decorations. As per this Iron Lady, pictured on the Victorian Sweatshop Forum.

Thanks to Finnchik for the idea! I'm thinking Porcelin White, with the Willow Blue (Is it?) & a little gold.

Traditionalists may not like it, but I'm doing it anyway. It just looks cool to me, & it'll never be original again.

Jan 25 2021.

Was intending to get on with the refinish over the Christmas break, but other things interevened. (Like socialising before Lockdown...)

Found some Enamel paint, but not found any suitable decals yet. 

 

September 20 2021.

Some space here, (Covid intervenes) but I think I may have found the hand crank for this IF: )

To see click here.