A useful Singer 15-87 accessory search starts with the complete model number. Singer's historical parts book names 15-86 and 15-87 explicitly. Keep that designation when asking about a replacement; a listing for “vintage Singer” or “Touch & Sew” does not establish a match.
For a machine inherited with a box of attachments, identify what you already have before buying more. Photograph the machine, the fitted presser foot and the bobbin area. Keep any stamped references with those photographs so a seller can answer a specific question.
Separate the original number from a current replacement
Singer’s historical Form 18840 identifies 2518 as the shuttle bobbin and 15277 as the complete bobbin case. The 15-87 section explicitly adopts the 15-86 list with a balance-wheel exception. These are historical component identifications, not a promise that a modern retail offer carries the original number.
Manufacturer references: original Singer Form 18840, printed pages 10–13.
Start with one sewing task
Choose an accessory for the job you need to do next. If a standard seam sews well but stitching beside zipper teeth is awkward, ask about a zipper attachment expressly supported for the 15-87. If repeated narrow hems are the problem, investigate a model-matched hemmer and its instructions. A large assortment is less useful than one attachment you can identify and use correctly.
Before ordering a vintage attachment set, request a clear photograph of every included piece. A case or instruction leaflet can survive after its original contents have been mixed with another machine's accessories. Check the attachment itself, its fittings and any required screws or guides.
Check the complete presser-foot fitting
Do not treat “low shank” as a complete compatibility answer. Ask whether the exact foot supports Singer 15-87, how it attaches, what holder or adapter it requires and which sewing operations it permits. A foot that can be fastened in place still needs suitable clearance and operating instructions.
If you are considering a snap-on foot with an adapter, identify the adapter and foot separately. Confirm the combination for this machine before purchase. Avoid forcing an unfamiliar fitting or substituting a screw simply because its head looks similar.
Match the bobbin and its surrounding parts separately
Keep a known-correct bobbin as an identification sample. Record its reference if available, material and shape, then compare those details with the machine's instructions and the seller's exact-model claim. “Singer bobbin” and a similar photograph are too broad to settle the choice.
A bobbin, bobbin case and shuttle component are different purchases. Describe the missing or damaged piece precisely. If a seller proposes a replacement reference, ask what supports that relationship and whether the offer is one piece or a pack. A historical parts-book number helps identify an original component; a modern substitute still needs its own match.
Use the right instructions for needles and care
Choose needles using the system specified in the machine's instructions, then select the type and size for the thread and fabric. Follow that manual's insertion and threading diagrams. Do not borrow the flat-side direction or threading path from a different Singer model.
For cleaning and lubrication, use the manual's locations and procedure. If the machine's history is unknown, arrange a condition check before diagnosing a persistent sewing problem by buying accessories. Keep replacement of internal mechanisms separate from routine attachment shopping.
Before you order
- Give the seller the full model: Singer 15-87.
- Match the exact accessory, its fitting and any required companion pieces.
- Confirm the offered quantity and condition rather than relying on a generic picture.
- Keep the instructions and reference with the accessory for future use.
Need help checking a candidate? Contact Sewlume with the model, accessory reference and photographs. Those details make a fitment question much easier to resolve.
Choose the next check
compare bobbin classes and shapes; distinguish the bobbin from its case or holder; identify the foot mount.