What did we do before the internet?
I found a site that sells belts for Treadle Machines. Would one of you who knows these things look at it, and tell me if I need to buy the wrench, or can I just use a regular wrench?
A
Wrench? You don't need a wrench to install a treadle belt. I have a pair of specialized pliers, but they are just for convenience. You need to carefully measure, punch a hole, and put the staple through that hole, and trim the belt. It's one of those "measure 3 times, cut once" situations. Good, clear instructions here:
Thanks - I'm really dumbfounded that I have discovered (through the power of reading Usenet) that it may be possible to sew in the same room my family is watching TV in.
Do you buy your belts there?
AIn article , Angrie.Woman of SBC
If you give us the URL I'll have a look, but I never need a spanner for changing a treadle belt. Basically, you need something to cut the leather to the right length (I use secateurs). Then a hammer, a nail, and a bit of wood to punch a hole through the end I just cut, and pliers to bend the staple closed once it's holding the ends together (you do this after you've fitted the belt). Some places will sell you a tool for doing all this, but I find my bits and bobs are fine for the few I do each year.
In article , Angrie.Woman of SBC
I get mine from Wilf, my OSMG in Canterbury.
You don't need anything special, but I think you're talking about belt punch pliers. These are to make a hole in the belt to put the metal staple through. You can use a nail or ice pick and a block of wood to make the hole:
-Irene
-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20
--Mae West=20
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I've bought treadle belts in sewing machine stores - the kind that have parts and do repairs, not retail chains like WalMart or Sears. The prices vary, as does the quality of the belts. For occasional use, the quality is not as important an issue as for a machine that gets steady, heavy use. They're also readily available on-line from a lot of different sellers. I have bought from Guy Baker
I'm just astounded that there are so many of you still using the treadle machine.
I can't believe I forgot to post yet another link. The tool is shown at:
those are the belt punch pliers and clip crimper. I did buy them because I use leather belts on my industrials and also have 3 treadles. They do a very nice job but are not really necessary. I only paid about $12.00 Canadian for them at a hobby shop though. Keep you eye on e-bay they sometimes are there.
In article , Angrie.Woman of SBC
Well. I started sewing on a treadle - my 81yo dad still has it and uses it, I have two of my own.
You don't need their gadget for punching a hole unless you're going to be changing a dozen or so belts every week!
I got mine from Guy Baker for a good bit less, and they were really an indulgence. I don't have to change belts that often. I also would note that you don't really need that staple, so if it breaks or you lose it, don't panic. Take a length of strong thread or dental floss and just "sew" the two ends together. This is a lot more silent than the clip when sewing.
Treadling is very relaxing. It can be almost hypnotic - or like meditation on long seams. For piecing, you get great control, so if you quilt or sew Vogue patterns (little joke - I've seen jigsaw puzzles with fewer pieces) you might really like the treadle for sewing.
You don't need a wrench at all. You need a hammer, small nail, and wire snips or a sharp knife. See
No reason to be astounded....
You don't need that unless you plan on buying umpteen treadles.
I wasn't astounded, just somewhat surprised, when I visited
gwh
I still sell many treadle capable machines to Amish, Mennonite, and other groups who do not use electricity. Also most companies make machines for Third world consumption that are not electrified but can be at a later date. You can almost treadle/hand crank anything with the right hand wheel attached. I refurb machines give to my Amish friends in Indiana. You should see them do a satin stitch or a ZZ over cast. They can really make those treadles or cranks fly. There is a whole load of knock off treadles coming in from China and Taiwan cloned in the old black style of antique machines. They are usually in really cheaply made treadle cabinets often press board painted to look like wood. Janome and Pfaff names are on some but have nothing to do with those companies. Really badly cast machines with really really bright decals. Singer still does a black basic treadle/crank machine but they are done in Brazil and seem to be a much better casting and machine altogether than the knock-offs. Beware these are being sold on e-bay as antiques the Pfaff model is listed as a 51....it is NOT a Pfaff, and not supported or recognized by them. Mostly hand cranks but a few in treadle bases. Horrible machines.
Hmm... they say that you need a "treadle operated sewing table (not included)", but they don't list it as an available accessories. Where, pray, are you supposed to get one, apart from canibalising an old treadle?
My Singer 411 was bought in 1967 (the original receipt was in the cabinet when I bought it). It has holes in the bed to allow the belt to pass through, so it can be used as a treadle. So even in the latter part of the
60s, Singer must have felt there was a call for treadles - and not just straight-stitch, either: the 411 has some fancy stitches.BTW, the original price was £90, about $170 at today's exchange rate, which seems to translate to over £1000 ($1900) in modern money. So it wasn't a cheap machine.
Sally
But these are still not up to the quality of early 20th century and older Singer treadles; caveat emptor.
Maybe not, but many countries do not have the resources of old machines as we do. We have purchased and donated about 100 of these and sent them to Siri Lanka in the past 3 months. They are a good machine and the quality of them is very good, so don't judge till you try them. These will be put to use to rebuild businesses lost. I have no problem recommending the Singers to people who do wish to buy a' new' treadle, I still think the Black Janome and Pfaff ones are trash though. Many of these new treadle Singers are also sold in the far North and are very well received. They are standing up to the heavy garment sewing that is done in some of our northern communities. Also Singer has been most gracious with the purchases for over seas incorporating many discounts and giving us basic tables to send with the machines free of charge.
When I bought my Singer Athena, back about 1980, the Singer store (they still existed then) had a trade in that was a zigzag in a very modern treadle cabinet. They said it had been traded by someone who had been living in a country with chancy electricity. The machine had a motor, but also had the treadle. I was sorely tempted to buy it rather than the Athena, but my MIL was going to be using the machine.
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