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Modern treadle sewing machines

18 years ago

I was noodling about on the Allbrand page just to see what fun stuff there was in sewing these days when I discovered that both Singer and Janome make a treadle machine. Janome specifically says that they make theirs for the Amish community. Well, where I live we have several times lost power for days at a time in bad weather, and I have thought that it might be handy to have a sewing machine that did not depend on power. Whether I'll do anything about it or not, I don't know, but I thought I'd ask about these machines. Does anyone know anything about the quality of them? I rather like the idea of the Janome one because it looked like a modern machine. The Singer one looked like a reproduction. That may mean that they got the design just right the first time, but it also might mean that they didn't really expect anyone to use it, and were just appealing to nostalgia. The Janome one looks like they really mean it to be used, not just admired.

Any ideas? Experience? Thoughts?

Rosefolly

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Comments (4)

cmc_97
18 years ago
Another place to see modern treadle sewing machines is on the Lehman's web site. They sell to the Amish and "off-grid" communities.

Lehman's treadle is a mechanical (as opposed to electronic) Necchi converted for treadle use. I think the Janome on the Allbrands web site is similar - an all-mechanical machine converted for treadle use. They both look like sturdy, serious machines that would give you good service.

The "Singer" is actually a copy of the classic Singer Featherweight. Vintage Featherweights are very popular and sell for about $500, although the price varies depending on the quality and collectablity of the specific model. Quilters LOVE these.

Another site that you might find interesting is the Treadle On web site. This site caters to people who collect and restore old treadle machines - and actually use, them, too. Lots of good info; a restored old machine might be the way to go.

http://www.treadleon.net/

CMC

Here is a link that might be useful: Lehman's treadle machine
glassquilt
18 years ago
"..they got the design just right the first time, but it also might mean that they didn't really expect anyone to use it, and were just appealing to nostalgia"

I think they got it right the first time. We had a sewing machine repair shop next to our store and they did repairs at nursing homes. The older residents used them - even if they'd had a stroke they were able to remember what they'd been trained on. My mom had a small stroke and went back to the treadle that was her mother's.

If they sell to the Amish I'm sure the machine is used for sewing and not nostalgia.

I think you could trust them.
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Never seen rust on an old treadle either. Sometimes a little on the iron of the treadle works. Did you mean 1887? Depending on the date of manufacture, appropriate needles can be hard to get, but there are online sources who carry original ones if you can get a size on them. The bobbin should be with the machine, or several in fact. If it's a round bobbin you may have better luck replacing them. My machines are all long bobbins but they're available as well online and are old salvadge originals. The bobbin chase is another story, so hopefully all parts are intact. It's also hard to get good leather replacement belts. I buy belts from Lehman's hardware in Amish country, but they carry rubber ones and they are not nearly as good as leather. I have no clue on how to remove silver spray paint. I successfully removed gilt paint somebody used on a pair of 1930s lamps with acetone nail polish remover, but I guess it's going to depend on the solvent carrier in the paint on your machine. What a pity. By all means, try to get that serial number. It'll nail your manufacture date on an old Singer.
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When I converted my old machine back to electric, I found they had reversed the wheel and shaft end on the machine and had to flip it back around. There were long and complicated directions on how to do it on the web, I was following, and then just deep-sixed them and figured it out myself. They made a mountain out of a molehill and it was much easier than they made it out to be. You absolutely must have the groove on the shaft coming out of the machine next to the wheel you move by hand, to accommodate the belt. You will find that many old electric machines can be stuck in the base for a treadle machine and some gals did that when electrics became available so they didn't have to buy a new cabinet. That could lead a person to think a machine was once a treadle machine when it wasn't. Mine is a late 1800s model and has the long bobbin. I don't mind it, but I don't think it holds as much bobbin thread as a round bobbin treadle. Mine doesn't, anyway. Yes, belts are still available. I like the old leather belts but they're harder to get. Lehman's non-electric store (they're on the web and I buy a lot from them) has rubber machine belts, but I have to occasionally adjust the belt tension as they seem to stretch more than a leather belt.
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If you don't get an answer here, go to http://quiltingboard.com/main-f1/ and ask in the Vintage sewing machine section. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people who might gladly help you. Good luck!
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cmc_97
18 years ago
Dick Wightman, who runs the Treadle On web site, purchased the Janome treadle head from AllBrands. You can read his "review" here.

Includes some more photos of the machine, also.

CMC

Here is a link that might be useful: Janome Model 712T Treadle Head
April_Swinehart
18 years ago
I got my treadle at an auction. I only paid $10 and all I had to do was replace the belt and refinish it. I enjoyed tracing the history of where the machine was made and found the repair manual for oiling and such on line. If you watch auctions you can find them pretty inexpensive along with "normal" machines. Enjoy finding your machine.

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