Posted 10 years ago
Alexcre
(1 item)
I got this for free was too big a job for the guy who gave it to me. It was a sad excuse for wood, peeling, warped and just horrible condition but the machine it self worked perfect, i fixed up the table as best I could but I'm not sure what model or when its from its got the serial # jb258949 its not attched atm. Anything you guys can tell me?
Have you gotten all the information you needed?
The link below is directly to Singer and provides info. on all their model numbers.
http://www.singerco.com/support/machine-serial-numbers
the J serial numbers can't be dated from the Singer online records any more. The machine is a model 15 and dates to 1939. Made at St Jean sur Richelieu factory Quebec.
Are we talking a single "J"
Because the site below and the Singer site both show single "J" listing.
And the Singer site shows JA, JB, JC, JD and JE.
http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/serial-numbers/singer-j-series-serial-numbers.html
Not single J serial numbers, no - J for St Jean. The serial numbers for the St Jean sur Richelieu factory in Quebec commenced with JA in 1924 and went to JE in 1961. There are sites which mention start years, or year ranges, for these numbers, but the actual listings are not online anywhere. I have the listings which used to be on the Singer site, probably 10 or more years ago, for the numbers by year, but it doesn't give the model numbers or commission dates.
Looking for when this sewing machine was made. I understand that JB numbers were from St. John, Quebec /Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu , PQ.
Singer Sewing Machine 15-91, Number JB613601,
My Instructions Booklet has this info in upper left corner "Form 19246 (Rev. 441)"
Picture of similar Instruction booklet attached.
Picture of Machine attached.
There is a black cabinet also.
As long as I'm at it, I might as well do a fill on this old VSM post (I addressed HenryWindsor's questions on his own post, https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/314946-age-of-singer-sewing-machine-15-91-numb).
The late great Bernadette basically identified this VSM, but didn't provide any links.
Serial number JB258949 was one of a block of serial numbers associated with Singer's Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu AKA St. John's factory.
Unfortunately, the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu factory serial numbers can't be pinned down to a single year the way most Singer serial numbers can. At best, there is a range of years:
*snip*
JB 1936 - 1948
*snip*
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/stjohns
There is a sad story about the St. John's factory that possibly explains the relatively poor record-keeping (as opposed to the records for Singer's Elizabethport and Kilbowie factories):
https://singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/singer-sewing-at-the-st-johns-factory-quebec-canada
This VSM is a model 15-91, per Sandman's Singer Identification tool:
https://www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm
https://www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm#4
The distinguishing characteristics of a 15-91 (scroll down):
http://needlebar.org/main/15chart/
More about the 15-91:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer-15-91-sewing-machine.html
About the model 15 in general:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/15
A manual:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/15-91.pdf
The decal set looks like Trefoil:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal17
The cabinet is a variation of Cabinet Table No. 2:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/cabinet_table_no_2-3.html
It's probably one of the later editions, because of the straight, unadorned legs, e.g.:
http://needlebar.org/main/singercabs/treadles.html#straight
About Singer's South Bend, IN cabinet factory:
https://orangebeanindiana.com/2019/06/12/south-bends-singer-sewing-machine-company/
It sounds like the owner struggled to restore the cabinet, because it was in poor shape.
The sewing machine head wasn't actually installed in the cabinet when the first picture was taken, so I have to wonder whether the owner ever finished the job. Perhaps they lacked hinge pins or some other critical component.
In any case, they are to be commended for rescuing this fine Singer VSM and cabinet. :-)