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How to thread a Japanese Class 15 bobbin

8/16/2013

Japanese Class 15 "clone"

If you've already read "Bobbin Case Basics" you won't be surprised by anything you read here. But you may find it helpful if you own one of the many Singer 15 "clones" built in Japan.

Japanese 15 clones use the same bobbin as the Singer 15 machines, but the bobbin case is set up backwards. The flat tension spring is on the opposite side, which means the thread wraps in the opposite direction when you insert the bobbin in the case.

However the basic principle of bobbin loading is the same whether you are loading a Singer 15 or a Japanese 15 bobbin: the thread slides under the tension spring in the opposite direction that it wraps on the bobbin.

Threading Japanese Class 15 bobbin case

Here's the step-by-step:

1. Hold bobbin case in left hand with open side facing right and slotted groove pointing toward you.
2. Hold bobbin in right hand with thread wrapping AWAY from you over the top of the bobbin.
3. Insert bobbin into case with a right to left motion.
4. Pull thread into the slotted groove.
5. Slide thread TOWARD you and DOWN along the tension spring until thread pops into notch at the bottom.
6. Load bobbin into machine.

There, wasn't that easy?

When in doubt, refer to your machine's instruction manual for specific instructions. Or you can visit our "Cheat Sheets" page for printable reference sheets.

Happy Sewing!
Barbara

OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

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Toyota Test Drive...in my Sewing Room

9/30/2012

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Did you know that Toyota made vintage sewing machines?

This was news to me a couple of years ago when I kept seeing the Toyota name popping up on eBay listings. So I did a little research and it turns out that long before they started building cars, Toyota manufactured commercial textile equipment. Then came cars and
World War II. The Japanese economy needed rebuilding and the US government stepped in with financial and material aid.

One of the US government's gifts was sewing machine manufacturing technology. Someone saw an opportunity to capitalize on a lapse in Singer's patent on the Class 15 sewing machine and a new industry was born! Japanese manufacturers like Toyota cranked out millions of "15-Clone" sewing machines from the late 1940's into the 1960's.

The Japanese machines were cheaper than their Singer counterparts and more colorful. Singer was still clinging to Henry Ford's "You can have any color you want, as long as it's black" aesthetic. By comparison, the Japanese imports were exotic birds in brilliant colors and flashy chrome trim.

Very few Japanese machines carry an identifiable maker's mark. The machines were imported into the US in huge numbers and sold to US retailers under a wide variety of names. Western Auto stores sold 15-clones under the "Wizard" name. Montgomery Ward marketed theirs under the "Signature" name.

It can be difficult to determine which Japanese factory produced your 15-Clone due to missing and incomplete factory records. But it is known that Morse contracted with Toyota for the model 200, which means the machine pictured above is a "Toyota" product. Very cool in my book!

For more information, check out the Yahoo forum on this topic.

Happy Sewing!
Barbara

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How to thread a Japanese Class 15 bobbin

Toyota Test Drive...in my Sewing Room

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How to thread a Japanese Class 15 bobbin

Toyota Test Drive...in my Sewing Room

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