Singer New Family 12 or 12k and Singer Improved Family 15.
Both the 12k and the 15 are known as Fiddle base, as they have a curved base, unlike the later machines that have a rectangular base.
As at 2022. The images below are of the machines as I found them “in the wild” Neither is perfect to look at, they both came in their original treadle tables. They both sew a straight stitch.
In May 2023 I found another Improved family IF-15, Serial number 8265113, I added it and its table to my collection, her decals are even nicer than my first machine and the table is in better condition also. I donated the first machine 8193651 to Annie Bonny’s Locker Museum in Hawthorn, Vic. The images for this machine are also below.
In January 2025 I added a new page to this site, it contains details of my second Singer 12k Hand Crank.
More history on these machines can be found at ISMACS page The Singer Improved family.
The instruction book for the Singer Improved family 15 can be found here.
The instruction book for the Singer New family 12k can be found here.
2078448 377648 is 1875 , New Family 12
8193651 is 1888, Improved Family IF-15 (unlike most Singer machines, this serial number is found on the back of the machine.)
8265113 is also 1888.
Side by side
The 12 series is much smaller than the IF 15.
Singer New Family 1875
Singer Improved Family 1888
My second Improved family 1888.
