OT - My new treadle machine - almost! H-E-L-P

Here's a quick link:

I googled Free Sewing Machine Company.

G> My son called me last night to ask if I wanted a treadle sewing

What Ginger said. Also a link to Free at ISMACS:

The page on the #5 cabinet might be of particular interest to you. If I think about it tonight, I'll look up the Free #5 in one of my reference books.

The 1895 White treadle I used to have, had a cabinet that had the lift to bring up the machine. Barbara in FL

Bless you! Thanks Ginger! I sent the website of the picture of the machine to my DS, and asked him "Is this it?" I tried to Google it, but don't know what I did wrong as I didn't come close to getting any results. I bookmarked it and it's parent site. THANK YOU! ME-Judy

G> My son called me last night to ask if I wanted a treadle sewing

Ooooh, Kathy, THANKS to you, too! I'd lost the link (in my favorites) to ISMAC. I forwarded this picture to my DS also... "Is this it?" This machine sounds so great - can't wait to lay my hands on it! ME-Judy

I can't wait to see how in the heck that works! In fact, I can't wait to see the machine (& its cabinet)! I knew you gals (and guys) would come through to help me! ME-Judy

When you get your hands on the machine, you may find that it is completely "frozen", but don't give up on it. I was given a treadle that supposedly dates to the early 1900's, and I am certain that it was never cleaned or oiled or anything for at least 50 years -- it sat in a basement with an old sheet thrown over it all that time! Anyhow, I got the metalworks and the cabinet all cleaned up and put on a new leather band, and then got out the sewing machine oil. I don't have an instruction manual for this orphan and can't even get a good handle on identifying it yet, so I threw caution to the winds and oiled everything! Every screw, every hole, every place that 2 or more pieces of metal joined -- I oiled it all! I figured that I would find oil dripping out here and there, but not a bit dripped! Then I did it twice more, waiting a couple of hours between each dose of oil. And it's not frozen now! It's not happy, but it's moving, and I figure that at least another couple of oil doses will be in order. This is probably very unorthodox, but I have nothing to lose, right?

Take everything off you can get off without breaking it, and take a look inside for rust, old fluff, and other grunge. Replace old fossil grease with new grease rather than oil, and you are doing perfectly.

Thanks to both you and Kate for the lubricating suggestions! BTW, my son replied to the pics I sent from the online sources that Ginger and Kathy sent... YUP that's the one! I'm getting soooo excited about getting it.... my DS's phone call was waaay out of the blue (like a gift from Santa!).

ME-Judy

Here's what the Charles Law book says about that model: "The Free Model No. 5 Vibrator Vibrating Shuttle (1910s - 1920s)

Like its predecessor, this Free vibrating shuttle sewing machine was a copy of the Singer Class 27 sewing machine. However, it featured a number of improvements such as a take up arm wich traveled in an arc, not in a straight line as the take up arm of the Singer Model 27."

(I'm currently sewing on a 1901 Singer Model 27)

Just as an interesting note, The Free Sewing Machine Company merged with New Home in 1927. In 1954 the combined company was bought by Janome.

Kathy A., posting from home so not my usual siggy or email.

Thanks for the additional info. I'm saving that info. DS sent the dimensions of the cabinet (closed with machine inside) to see if it will fit on it's back in the trunk of the car, so we can pick it up this weekend (hoping NO SNOW). . Hopefully the bobbins are the same as for my other treadle, and I can try it out soon. ME-Judy

Here's what the Charles Law book says about that model: "The Free Model No. 5 Vibrator Vibrating Shuttle (1910s - 1920s)

Like its predecessor, this Free vibrating shuttle sewing machine was a copy of the Singer Class 27 sewing machine. However, it featured a number of improvements such as a take up arm wich traveled in an arc, not in a straight line as the take up arm of the Singer Model 27."

(I'm currently sewing on a 1901 Singer Model 27)

Just as an interesting note, The Free Sewing Machine Company merged with New Home in 1927. In 1954 the combined company was bought by Janome.

Kathy A., posting from home so not my usual siggy or email.

Roberta, that was my very first thought when my DS told me about the machine -- I thought it was an "Advertising Give-Away Gimmick!!!! Maybe that's why I had such a hard time with Google trying to find info on it!

This is my second "freebee treadle" - I think the machines send out vibes - trying to find someone who will take care of them (???) The first one was an 1895 (originally treadle, then electrified) Singer my DH found at the local dump. [We have a free-to-take area at the dump so that neat old stuff can find new homes.] I just keep wondering why the owners leave stuff like that behind - thankfully both have been rescued!

ME-Judy