I do most of my sewing with a Pfaff Varimatic (not vintage, though discontinued) and occasionally a Juki serger (also not vintage and now discontinued). But I own a lovely, lovely Featherweight and a Singer 27K/28K treadle. The Featherweight works fine for piecing, but lacks the oomph to sew heavier apparel fabric. The treadle is also a beautiful machine in a gorgeous quarter sawn oak cabinet and I keep meaning to get it brought up to working condition. I know a shop that could do it, but it's just so heavy to lift that I keep putting it off. However, after reading this thread, I moved my treadle out of the south facing window where it has been for the past couple of years! My final machine is a Singer 401 from the early 1960's. I bought it for one of my daughters but she never took it out of her car. After driving around with it for a year, the tension mechanism broke (surprise). I have it at the shop while a new part is located -- possibly made new. I told her that if she ever decides she wants it back, and I still have it, it's hers. Until then, it will be mine. She really doesn't have any interest in sewing. This was me pushing her, so I'm just as well pleased to get it back. It's a good machine. If I got a chance to find a Bernina 1008 at a good price, I would jump on it, too. My taste is decidedly for fine quality mechanical machines, preferably metal not plastic. If I ever decided to get an embroidery machine, I would get a dedicated machine, not a general purpose one that also did embroidery. Rosefolly

Hi Annie, Thank you for your information. It was really interesting and I truly enjoy learning more about my little godzilla. "Godzilla" is the perfect name for the finish! What it lacks in beauty - it makes up for it in sturdiness. The M.W. logo is also cast iron - screwed on the front - I can probably take it off and scan it for you - but I don't know where to send it or where to post it - if there is somewhere I can download it for you let me know. I'll take some pictures, but I'll have to do it the old fashioned way -take the film in and get it developed, so that will take a little longer. There's something else I didn't mention. The serial number I gave you is under the front shuttle slide, but on the back motor there is a plaque that says Model E and it also has some numbers. I just presume it has something to do with Montgomery Ward's.

I don't spin, but I sew all the time on treadle sewing machines. Sounds like you need a bit of PRACTICE! First of all, make sure that all the treadle parts are clean and lubricated. Vintage thread, pet fur, and household detritus wrapped around the bearings make for difficult treadling. Also make sure the machine is similarly clean and lubed. And lastly, have the belt as loose as you can without it slipping on the drive or hand wheels. Now, unthread the the machine and put your feet on the treadle and make it move. Make sure you rock the treadle ALL the way forward, then ALL the way back. You should quickly pick up the rhythm. Once you can start and stop exactly where and when you want, you can begin sewing (or spinning).

I have looked on the net quite a bit since you posted and can find very little about your Coronado but thought you might find this link helpful and perhaps contact the person who posted. Good luck. Here is a link that might be useful: Coronado post on sewing forum