Posted 2 years ago
HenryWindsor
(1 item)
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.
Kera will be along shortly and tell you everything you wanted to know and mire. She's the sewing machine guru..
dav2no1, Not quite everything, unfortunately. :-(
Hi, HenryWindsor. :-)
Unfortunately, the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu factory serial numbers can't be pinned down to a single year as most Singer serial numbers can.
At best, there is a range:
*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 poor record-keeping:
https://singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/singer-sewing-at-the-st-johns-factory-quebec-canada
Unfortunately, I can't find any specific information about that particular revision of the 15-91 operators manual. Here's a soft copy of any operators manual for the 15-91 so you can spare your vintage paper copy needless handling:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/15-91.pdf
Your picture of the sewing machine head is a bit dark and blurry, but it looks like the decal set is Trefoil:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal17
I can't see the face plate or rear access panel, but here is a gallery of them for you to browse:
https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/gallery_faceplates
I'm afraid that I can't tell much about your cabinet, either, because I can only see the top of it.
You're allowed up to four pictures in a post, so you could edit your post and add one of the entire front of the cabinet.
In the meantime, here are a couple of Singer cabinet galleries for you to browse:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_sewing_machine_cabinets.html
https://www.singer301.com/cabinet/default.html
Hi again, HenryWindsor. :-)
In reading back, I realized that I neglected to link a few more pertinent websites/articles.
Because your Singer VSM has a JB prefix serial number, there is no serial number table that also provides a model number.
While you do have a hard copy manual for a 15-91, it's not unknown for VSMs to have manuals for different models stashed away in a drawer of the cabinet.
To people used to looking at VSMs, it's apparent that it is indeed a model 15, because of the tension assembly protruding from the face plate.
However, there is an online tool to help newbie VSM owners identify various Singer domestic models:
https://www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm
Sandman confirms that your machine is indeed a model 15-91:
https://www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm#4
Per needlebar dot org, the Singer model 15-91 was produced 1932-1956 (scroll down):
http://needlebar.org/main/15chart/
More about the model 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
I'm sorry that I couldn't positively identify your cabinet model.
The inability to pin down a single year of manufacture for your sewing machine head, and a model number/name for your cabinet illustrate that even Singer's surviving documentation, which is far and away the most comprehensive for any vintage sewing machine company, isn't perfect. :-(