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singer treadle sewing machine

17 years ago

I was given an old singer sewing machine from a neighbor and would love to have the cabinet and iron base restored. Any suggestions, or referrals of where i could get this done?? The machine is intact~I will leave it in but don't really mind if it doesn't work~I mainly want to use it for a table or small desk. Thanks!

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Comments (3)

mzmarty
17 years ago
Do you not want to do this yourself? If the iron is rusted, you might need to have it sandblast, or you could clean it yourself and use navel jelly. I have had very good luck this way. As for the wood, I would clean it and put tung oil on it. If you don't want to do this yourself, find a furniture restorer in your phone book or ask an antique store owner who they use.
pattico_gw
17 years ago
I redid the one I have in my living room....it was a veneer that was all tearing off...I peeled it all off and found it was oak underneath. I've since heard that oak used to be a cheap wood and they covered it up with veneers to make it look more expensive. After I got it all peeled off...I sanded it good and stained and waxed it...It still looks old because it has lots of dings and scratches in it...

I use it for a lamp table...

patti
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My mother was given a family sewing machine from my father's side of the family. Lore has it that a great aunt sewed a vest for Tom Thumb on it. This man was a circus performer. My father was born in the 1890s, so our Singer was pretty old too. It had a very nice wood box and cabinet on decorative cast iron legs. I learned to sew on this Singer treadle machine and preferred it to the electric ones because it was so easy to control.
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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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Good grief you are making me feel old. Our sewing classes in middle school were taught on treadle machines. That's how I began. We had one electric everyone fought over but me. I love to sew on treadles, love the rhythm, the sound of the flywheel, and the feeling of control of mechanical devices as opposed to electrical. Do you plan to use yours, or is it more for decoration. I can't believe how many people paint up their cabinets and turn them into defunct end tables. Nice looking machine!
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Cheryl, go to the quilting board site- http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/ Register and ask your question there. It's the vintage machines forum and there is a wealth of info there. You might want to post a pix of it. Do you think your machine is a Featherweight that has been mounted in the treadle cabinet?
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csackett
17 years ago
What a find! I have two and they bought work. I don't really use them, but I play with them now and then for old time's sake. I think the above suggestions are great. It will look better cleaned up with the dings and all. After you get the rust off you can repaint the black metal and it will be perfect. My mother had my first one sandblasted - wood and all and now the wood if really grainy. Tough lesson to learn. CS

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