![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-27-1024x616.png)
Here are some “before” pictures of a machine that was given to me. It had been removed from its cabinet after cutting the electrical cord.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-28-1024x768.png)
This machine has the coveted RAF (Royal Air Force) decals. You can also see that it unfortunately has a messed up needle plate where someone tried to remove the screws and ended up drilling them out and replacing one with a misfit screw. The other was drilled, but could not be removed. So the owner covered the botched up job with masking tape to hold the plate down.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-29-1024x921.png)
The round cam bobbin winder and the stitch length knob was a clue to its subclass, which is a good thing to know. Because, even though it is a Singer class 15, it takes a different bobbin case than the model 15-88 and 15-90. It, of course was missing its bobbin case.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-30-1024x768.png)
The model 15-30 is supposed to be a treadle or hand crank machine with a spoked handwheel, so I am guessing this motor and the solid handwheel was added after WW2. My husband checked the motor and discovered it runs smoothly, so I will keep the motor that my husband wired to a vintage foot controller for when I prefer to use electrical power.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-31-768x1024.png)
All the metal parts were rusted and the machine was frozen. But for its decals, it might’ve ended up in a landfill.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/image-32-768x1024.png)
A little oil and the machine soon broke free.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_21691-1024x768.jpg)
It never ceases to amaze me how easily some of these old machines recover after so much neglect.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_22021-1024x768.jpg)
Needs a little more cleaning, but getting there!
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_22031-e1557000126971-768x1024.jpg)
It’s beginning to shine.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_22041-1024x768.jpg)
Another view of the beautiful RAF decal set. Although they were already silvered and worn on part of this machine, they are worth saving.
![](https://www.sewingmachinemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-3.png)
Please time travel to another sewing machine era by clicking the time period button below:
1870-1879 * 1880-1889 * 1890-1899 * 1900-1909 * 1910-1919 * 1920-1929 * 1930-1939 * 1940-1949 * 1950-1959 * 1960-1969 * 1970-1979 * 1980-1989