Singer's 31-15 is often described as a Tailors sewing machine, and while it can be used by Tailors, it can also be used for a wide variety of fabrics, from heavy canvas and denim, to soft clothing leather, to coating and blankets, to lightweight wovens, and a variety of other fabrics. It literally depends on how YOU set it up. (Or how it was set up at the factory.)
Singer manufacturing made specialized sewing machines as "made to order", they would literally build sewing machines to order, for special uses in factories. The 31-15 takes a wide variety of needle sizes, which helps make it more versatile, especially for someone who has only one machine!
Larger and heavier than Singer's home sewing machines, the 31-15 was sold as a treadle machine, as well as occasionally a hand crank, but most were used with clutch motors, in industrial sewing tables, whether 3 phase, 220, or 110 electric motors. Today, you can purchase a servo motor, which uses less electricity, can be more easily adjusted for higher or lower speeds, and is silent, only running when you press the pedal.
Singer 31-15 with clutch motor, knee lift for presser foot, industrial bobbin winder, light built into the industrial table. No drawer, so I used the plastic drawers under it.
clutch motor on my 31-15
Singer 31-15 clutch pulley setup
Sewing a stroller carrier bag, and a carseat bag for my daughter to take to the airport-
Singer U.S.A. roller feet, the CORRECT industrial roller feet for high shank industrial lock stitch sewing machines like the Singer 31-15
Singer U.S.A. roller feet, the CORRECT industrial roller feet for high shank industrial lock stitch sewing machines like the Singer 31-15 I did not have these while I had the 31-15, though I did finally find this set in a batch of presser feet, after I bought my Singer 660 industrial sewing machine
On the left is a low shank roller foot for BabyLock sewing machines, on the right are industrial sewing machine roller feet from China, that are too high, so you have to adjust the presser foot bar much higher, to use these. Far right, a high shank roller foot, perfect for industrial sewing machines
