Old Treddle Sewing Machine

Chris R wrote:


You might take a look at:
http://www.treadleon.net /

Beverly

Chris R wrote:

There's a whole lotta folk about to help you with that!  Join Treadle On
and join the fun!


Also, take a look in at The Needle Bar: > http://needlebar.org /

And have a look at one of my restoration projects, an 1890's Adria
Saxonia: >
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Resources/machinegallery/Saxonia/saxonia_style_adria_machine.htm

The first thing is to make sure that your treadle isn't in a damp place.
I'd suggest getting it out of the basement and into a living area at a very
first step.  I'd then give it a good eyeballing, give it a good oiling
(sewing machine oil only) and gently turning the wheel to see if it turns
easily and that the needle bar moves up and down.  If all of that goes OK,
I'd then thread it up and try to (gently) use the treadle.

My advice is to always do as little as you can to get it going and as little
as you can to make it look OK.  I think there is nothing more offensive than
over-restored and over-renovated machines, but such a machine may be exaclty
what you have in your minds eye and exactly what you desire.

Farml wrote:

as little as >>you can to make it look OK. I think >>there is nothing
more offensive than >>over-restored and over-renovated >>machines, but
such a machine may be >>exaclty what you have in your minds >>eye and
exactly what you desire.

You're right about "over-restoring".  i did that to a "Jenny-Lind"
trunk, so I know I don't want to do that to the sewing machine.
One of the things I know I will need, if i decide it should be at least
operable is... the belt that goes from the machine to the the treadle.

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If you live in the US, there is a regular poster here who can probably help
you with the belt.  If you live in Australia, I can give you a name for a
supplier.

Yes, I've restored several treadles, one just last weekend  :)

First, do reading here, especially the first site, dedicated to people
powered sewing machines.  There are entire sections on refirbishing
the head, the irons, the woodwork, etc:

http://www.treadleon.net /

http://www.needlebar.org /

Good luck - you'll love sewing with it and being able to pass it on to
YOUR grand children :)

-Irene

On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:51:23 -0600, snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net (Chris R) wrote:

As well as the 2 great websites already recommended, there are several yahoo
groups that might be useful. Wefixit is a group of "shade tree mechanics",
Vintagesingers, Vintage_treadlesewingmachines, Singer, and Singermachines
are self explanatory. There are lots of others, depending on the make and
model of your machine. These groups are made up of enthusiasts, tinkerers
and some sewing machine mechanics. Lots of experience, readily shared.

chris
:-)

chris wrote:


As many of us have already noticed, the old sewing machines are all
metal, designed to last forever.  Most of sewing consists of straight
stitches anyway, but even the early zigzag machines are still going
strong.  Many of them can be treadled, too.  I love my new machines with
all their bells and whistles, but the truth is, while I'm setting up one
of these wonder machines, I could have been finished using an old one.
Plus the plastic and electronic parts are not going to last.  I'm
hanging onto my new machines, and I'll enjoy them.  But I'm not going to
part with my favorite oldies.  I need to part with a few -- 30-some is a
bit much.  I'll be delighted if I can pare it down to 10 or 12.  ;-)