Hand operated sewing machine

There are hand-crank machines. They are vintage-type machines and you can find them on Ebay. There are also some hand crank kits to convert some types of older electric machines to hand-crank machines. You can find more information about them at

which is the home of a mailing list I was on for a few years.

With electric machines that have the foot controller wired to the machine, it's possible to put the controller on the table next to the machine and operate it with a hand or elbow. It would require some coordination, but can be done.

The old Elna "grasshopper" had a hinged arm that was actually a brake-release - that could be operated by the elbow or knee.

It wouldn't be too difficult to imagine a foot switch jury-rigged for elbow or hand control. John T.

Some of the new electronic machines have an on-off button and a speed control operated by a push button, like this little Brother:

I'm in the process of assessing this machine at the moment: this feature is one I haven't tested yet, but I'm going to experiment with it tomorrow. I'll let you know how I get on.

My mother had a portable machine that was controlled with a lever that we pushed with the right knee. One pulled the lever out of its socket and put it inside the case when putting the machine away.

I've seen cabinet models with a klutzy imitation of knee control made by sliding a foot control into a pocket under the machine, under a knee-pushable lever that pressed on the button of the foot control.

(And whatever happened to foot controls with nice big flat levers instead of teeny little buttons that hurt when you sew barefoot?)

(Come to think of it, it's been more than a decade since I looked on the floor under the display models in the sewing-machine store; maybe the ergonomic design *has* come back.)

My Baby Lock, now 4-years old, does not need foot controls, it has a switch on the front that can be used. It came with foot controls and another type of controls, that I haven't tried yet. I use the front switch most of the time.

There are probably other brands as well, but I do love my B-L.

-- Emily

My first time to post. I've been following this thread because I have a friend in a wheelchair. She said when she bought her Elna Air Electronic that the sales clerk told her that she could blow in the end of the air tube to run the machine. My friend hasn't tried it yet.

david

(Hope I posted this correctly)

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: snipped-for-privacy@netfront.net ---

My 1961 Singer's foot control fits in a clamp under the cabinet to use as a knee-control, it is large and easy to handle. I've always used it as a knee-control. The B-L front switch is almost identical to the Janome on the previous site posted, and if I recall correctly, the Brother machine Kate is trying is also the same.

-- Emily

David, I haven't seen an Elna machine like that, but there are so many new innovations in machines today. I haven't kept up with them anymore like when I was younger. BTW, your post is okay.

-- Emily

Actually the Elna Air Electronic she has was bought in the '80s.

david

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: snipped-for-privacy@netfront.net ---

it has a

and another

switch most of the

B-L.

I have a

Electronic

the air tube

Intrigued i was compelled to try this on my own vintage Elna

**air electronic**

it worked ! not great ... as after about four exhales i had a numb face and a headache.

I took a 2ft piece of silicon tubing the same size as the foot control tubing connected it to the machine and i was able to get it going as much as half speed.

although it took a bit of air power to make it work it was not impossible

as an aside... i could easily imagine constructing some kind of air bulb that one could bite to make it work without the ill affects of pressurizing the face and brain #:o

hth robb

The air electronic is a pneumatic foot control, made in the 70's. I'm not sure blowing in the tube would work very well...

My foot control works well with hand or elbow pressure. Much more comfortable than using a foot pedal like this!

You go robb ! I can imagine that a "mouth-controlled" mechanism " jaw-bite controlled " rather than blowing - for ON/OFF and/or SPEED CONTROL would be very useful in many fields of endeavor. - far more than just wheelchair sewing ! Think of the possibilities ! Patent Pending... :-) John T.

Dan, will you please let us know what works for your friend in the wheelchair? I'm so intrigued! Thanks, Pora

Dan wrote: Is there an electric machine that does not require foot controls? Thinkicg of a person in a wheelchair.

Me: I think it was a Brother that I purchased for my mother years ago, but it had a knee control