Generally speaking, "industrial" equipment has a larger head and is powered by electricity. My 1929 Singer 31-15 is a perfect example. So is the 1943 Willcox&Gibbs rotary take-up(have 2 and love them!). Both techinically have "treadles". But the treadles are not the primary means of powering them. Of course, "treadle" machines were used commercially before electricity; I'm not THAT dumb, after all... ;) I was merely pointing out the difficulty "treadle" presents as a descriptive term. My brand new Juki 9010 has a "treadle", but it's simply an antiquated monniker, in no way indicative of the computerized motor/control box that operates the machine head.

There used to be a lady who frequented the quilting forum and went by the name of Damascus Annie. Whoa boy, did she know her treadle machines. She would have been able to tell you anything you wanted to know about it. I have an old Ohio Farmer Machine, and it is very like yours in the tension design and it wouldn't surprise me if it were made by the Reliance Company either........who did make machines under different brand names. Mine also comes with a host of accessories and I use it and in fact learnt to sew on a treadle machine. It's what we had in school....sort of like learning to drive on a stick shift. Does this one have a round or shuttle type bobbin? The cabinet looks more modern than mine and I'd guess my machine is a late 1800s model by the ornate gilt designs and wrought iron gingerbread. Your's looks like it may be as late as early 1900s and it is in quite good shape. Can't tell you more than that, but a serial or model number would help. It should be somewhere on the sewing head, and engraved in.

Thank you, I thought it had something to do with slowing down the process some. I have definitely felt "out of control" when I tried to FMQ. I am currently quilting one of my cow quilt tops (huge). I am using a walking foot and just doing straight lined, but trying to outline each cow, so a lot of stop, start, turning, shoving fabric around, etc. I am trying to slow down and enjoy the process the way I do piecing. I'm doing a LITTLE better at that but mostly just want to be done with it, LOL!

It's my goal for the upcoming winter to learn how to use the treadle I bought last year. I've never used one. Although my grandmother had one, I never saw her using it. I'm sure she sewed a lot in earlier years, having 12 kids. By the time I came along (maybe the 12th grandchild), I think she was just kind of worn out. Once I get so I can sew a straight line of stitches, I'd like to try free-motion quilting with it. A couple of years ago, I went to a quilt show in Wisconsin where Damascusannie (she used to be a frequent poster here--collected antique machines including a Damascus) was demonstrating FMQ on her treadle. That was when I decided I needed a treadle and wanted to learn to quilt with it. My treadle (named her BellaRuby as she's a beautiful Red Eye Singer) only has the regular foot and it's a back-clamp one. So after learning to make it go and before challenging myself with FMQ, I need to get an appropriate foot. Likely I'll have to convert the machine to a side-attaching bar as finding the back-clamping foot might be tough. Treadle on has some excellent instructions (and knowledgeable members) to help me with this conversion.