Kenmore 385.15516
The Kenmore 385.15516 was manufactured by Janome for Sears, made in Taiwan and sold under model number 385.15516000. At 13.5 pounds it’s legitimately portable, and it runs smoother than you’d expect from a plastic-shell machine. Under that shell is a cast metal frame, likely aluminum alloy, with a mixed drivetrain, metal where it counts, plastic for the stitch cams, cam drive, and the hook drive gear.
It’s a Class 15, front-loading, oscillating-hook machine. Getting to the bobbin case means pulling off the bed extension. That same extension gives you a free arm for sleeves and cuffs and doubles as storage for bobbins, needles.
Controls are straightforward: separate dials for stitch length (up to 4mm) and zigzag width (up to 5mm), a numbered tension dial, and a color-coded rotary stitch selector. It tops out at a reported 730+ stitches per minute on standard household current, uses 15×1 needles, and takes low-shank snap-on feet.
It’s been discontinued for years, but parts are still easy to source, bobbin cases, belts, and feet interchange with other Kenmore 158 and 385 series machines. The original 84-page manual is a free PDF download from the Internet Archive.
Kenmore 385.15516 Stitch Selector
The Kenmore 385.15516 has nine distinct stitch patterns, though I’m quite sure it was marketed as having at least 18. It also has a One-Step button hole.
Convertible Bed Extension With Storage
The bed extension opens up allowing you to store things, you can also remove the bed extension to reveal the free arm.. Unfortunately you can’t get to the bobbin case without removing the bed extension, which is a poorly thought out design.
Bobbin Access And Not So Obvious Feed Drop Lever
This is a traditional class 15 bobbin machine it also features a feed drop although it’s fairly well hidden and I just happened to find it.
Metal Frame Under A Plastic Outer Shell
Like most modern sewing machines the plastic shell conceals a cast metal frame. I don’t know what kind of metal it is, but I’m guessing it’s an aluminum alloy, but that’s just based on my observation and nothing more.
Outer shell screw locations
Removing the plastic shell isn’t too complicated, but there are a couple of tricks you should know.
- There are two dust hole covers to the right of the carry handle, these holes are for making adjustments to the machine and don’t need to be removed when removing the outer shells. Note: the dust covers were quite delicate on mine, I chipped one of them when using my fingernail to pry it up.
- There’s a hole under each leg of the handle, in that hole is a Philips head screw. Do not remove these screws, simply back each one out by one turn. The case slots fit under the screw heads.
Plastic Stitch Cam Stack and Selectors
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that this machine include some plastic gears and the stitch cams and cam drive is made of plastic. This isn’t 1950’s plastic though, It’s modern plastic designed for the job that it does.
Plastic Hook Drive Gear
The only plastic drivetrain part that I have any real concern about is the hook drive gear. Lent gets built up between the teeth of the gear and acts as a wedge, clean and lubricate this gear with clear synthetic grease regularly.
User Manual
You can still view or download the manual for this machine for free from Sears: Kenmore 385.15516 manual pdf
Specifications
| Brand | Kenmore |
| Model | Kenmore 385.15516 |
| Manufactured By | Janome |
| Made In | Taiwan |
| Hook Type | Oscillating |
| Bobbin | Class 15 |
| Bobbin Case | Class 15, “1 o’clock” position finger |
| Needle System | 15×1 |
| Foot Type | Low Shank |
| Construction | Mixed |
| Construction Drivetrain | Mixed |
Would you like to know more?
- History of Sears Sewing Machines (Kenmore, Minnesota, Franklin Explained)
- ISMACS – Sears Roebuck
- Sears Kenmore Sewing Machines
- Facebook Group – Vintage Sewing Machines
- Facebook Group – Vintage Sears Kenmore and White Sewing Machines
- Facebook Group – Vintage Kenmore Sears Sewing Machine Adoration and Restoration
