Singer · Straight stitch · 1930s to 1950s (adjusters manual 1935, owner's manual 1952)
The Singer 15 goes back to the oscillating-shuttle Improved Family of 1879 and stayed in production for more than a hundred years, and its Class 15 bobbin case became the pattern most makers copied. The 15-91 is the electric version with a potted motor built onto the back of the arm, driving through spiral gears instead of a belt. It sews a straight stitch forward and back on a cast-iron head. The tension sits on the faceplate at the end of the head, not on the front. The same stitching mechanism appears in the 15-88 treadle, the 15-89 hand crank and the 15-90 belt-motor machine. A clean 15-91 is quiet and steady. Check that the motor grease cups have been kept up and that the fibre gear on the handwheel is sound.
Under the throat plate
Ask for a photo under the slide plate with the bobbin case in place. A missing bobbin case or the wrong needle system is the most common reason a machine that looks fine won’t sew.
Old, gummed motor lubricant makes the 15-91 bind or run slowly. The motor drives a textolite (fibre) gear on the handwheel that can be damaged, and old wiring is often cracked.
New to old machines? How to check a used sewing machine walks through the handwheel, the wiring, the bobbin case and a test seam.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 15-91 titled serviced and tested at $272 delivered from a 99.8% seller, inside the $240–450 delivered band most complete 15-91s ask. There are at least 112 for sale, and many sit in cabinets or tables with no shipping quoted, so the cheapest ones often mean a drive to collect. Ask for a video of the handwheel turned by hand and the motor run slow and fast, since gummed grease and a damaged fibre gear on the handwheel are the usual faults, plus a photo of the Class 15 bobbin case out of the machine. Skip the $2,000 hideaway-table listing from a zero-feedback account, whose photo shows a later machine.
$240.65est. delivered
The lowest delivered complete 15-91 titled tested, at $241 delivered with its travel case. A cheaper working one here has no bobbin case, which on a 15-91 is the part that makes the stitch.
Vintage Singer Sewing Machine Model Number 15-91 W Travel Case Tested
$242.43est. delivered
A 1956 15-91 titled working at $242 delivered from a 100% seller, at the bottom of the band. The foot control isn't in the first photo, so ask for a photo of it and of the bobbin case.
Vintage 1956 Singer sewing machine Model 15-91 WORKS
$272.05est. delivered
A serviced, tested 15-91 at $272 delivered from a 99.8% seller, near the bottom of the band, so you pay little extra for the service. A straight stitch forward and back on a cast-iron head is about as simple as a first machine gets.
Serviced Vintage Singer 15-91 Sewing machine. Tested.
$272.05est. delivered
Titled serviced and tested, and the photos show the foot control, spare feet and manual, so it should sew on arrival. Ask whether the motor grease cups were refilled with motor lubricant, not oil.
Serviced Vintage Singer 15-91 Sewing machine. Tested.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$240.65est. delivered
$150.00 + $90.65 shipping
Buy It Now$150.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled tested, with travel case.
Seller: surfingmango2
99.1% positive
Used$242.43est. delivered
$170.00 + $72.43 shipping
Buy It Now$170.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
1956, titled works.
Seller: northernlightsresale
100% positive
Serviced$272.05est. delivered
$245.00 + $27.05 shipping
Buy It Now$245.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled serviced and tested.
Seller: riversideroughcut-llc
99.8% positive
Used$159.29est. delivered
$134.99 + $24.30 shipping
Buy It Now$134.99
Our take
Titled working, but no bobbin case. Budget for a Class 15 case.
Seller: ernieg82451
100% positive
Used$289.99est. delivered
$250.00 + $39.99 shipping
Buy It Now$250.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Seller says it will need servicing. Serial AH268496 dates it to 1947–48.
Seller: beaver63.123
99.4% positive
Used$331.20est. delivered
$300.00 + $31.20 shipping
Buy It Now$300.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Our take
With foot pedal. Not titled tested.
Seller: randcorneliu-9
100% positive
Used$477.95est. delivered
$350.00 + $127.95 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Same title as another seller's cheaper cabinet listing, so compare photos before you buy.
Seller: r8958
100% positive
Used$2,163.15est. delivered
$2,000.00 + $163.15 shipping
Buy It Now$2,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Zero-feedback seller, and the photo shows a later machine, not a black 15-91. Avoid.
Seller: lycan9441
No feedback yet
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 14, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchSinger
Straight stitch$390–$1,100 typical ask
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