Do You Have a Treadle or Handcrank Sewing Machine?

[Deleted]

Is a people-powered sewing machine something that you have as part of your preps, or for nostalgia reasons? Have you used it?

I have both, but then, I do sewing repairs for both myself and the public, plus, I’m a sewing machine collector. I have more than one of them because I like the old machinery. I use about 6 of mine at least once a month.

CD in Oklahoma

[Deleted]

I have 5 treadles and every one of them need something worked on except the 29-4. They are on the list behind mowing two yards, cutting brush, spraying fence lines. I might work some of them in between that and getting the garden in.  Most are sentimental, but I would like to refinish the cabinet of one that I have and put it on another set of irons and put the Singer clone (a Hudson) in it, since it was my mother's and I learned to sew on it.

olpoop, I sent you a PM a few days ago about my 29-4.

[mollymckee]

I have 2 Singer treadles. My DGM made anything and everything using a treadle and let me "sew" while she treadled when I was little. My Aunt has her machine, I'd love it but two of her granddaughters are very good seamstress and mine don't sew very much so I doubt I'll get it. I use one of mine occasionally, but the other needs some work.

[Billie]

I have a treadle but it needs fixing. Needs a belt but I don't know where to get one. Need instructs on how to thread it, too. One day, maybe!

[mollymckee]

You can order them on ebay. You just need to know the size. Erin posted some sites with manuals for older machines, i found mine there and it told me the length of the belt. I think most of them are pretty standard, but we have a couple of experienced treadle people here that probably know.

[ohiodreamer]

I have one, but we haven't "put it together". DH bought it for me a few years back. I ordered a belt but I haven't put it on. Haven't confirmed I have all the parts I need. It did come with a nice big drawer of parts, and at quick glance I should have everything. Should sit down and look it over and order a few spare parts while I can. It's different then the one my mom had, so I need to teach myself this one (a White with a odd to me bobbin). Also it came with about 20 different feet! No idea what most of them are for.

[Deleted]

Sorry, I have been forgetting to check my messages. On other forums, I’m used to having a pop-up window come up telling me that I have a message when I log in.

I use size Tex90 (size 92) bonded polyester thread with a type 29x3 size 18 needle in both of my Singer 29K70 machines. I use type 29x3 needles because I sew mostly woven fabrics and don’t need the type 29x4 leather-point needles. Either one will work in a model 29 machine.

The thread is usually labeled B92 or V92, if the “Tex90” is not on the label as well. I use bonded polyester because it’s supposed to have better resistance to damage from sunlight than nylon, and a lot of the items that I sew are used outdoors. Size Tex90 is probably the upper limit to how large of thread my machines will tolerate. I’ve never had a 29-4, but I’ve heard some owners mention that their machines don’t like Tex90 thread, and so they stick to Tex70 (size 69) thread as their upper limit. You might pick up a spool of Coats S964 Extra Strong Upholstery Thread (100% nylon) that is Tex70, and give that a try. Or, try a spool of Coats S971 Outdoor Thread (100% polyester) that is Tex90, to see if your machine likes it. I don’t use these threads, but they’re very small spools and available at some fabric sewing stores. They should give you an idea of how your machine responds to the different sizes before you buy large cones of thread.

CD in Oklahoma

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2015 1:55:28 GMT mollymckee said:

....My DGM made anything and everything using a treadle.....My Aunt has her machine, ....so I doubt I'll get it.

Sorry to hear that. Having a relative’s old sewing machine is hit and miss, and you’re not alone having one get away from you. I got lucky and got one.

My maternal Grandmother gave my wife and I her old 1906 White VSIII treadle back in 1982. She had gotten it as a used wedding gift back in 1928. In 1960, she had bought a new Singer 404, so she didn’t need the old treadle anymore.

My wife had been sewing since Junior High School in the early 70s, and she used some of our wedding gift money to buy a new electric Montgomery Ward machine in 1975, so she never did use the treadle over the years. But, we kept it and used it for decoration while moving from house to house and state to state for several years until I became interested in old sewing machines in 2006.

Now it is fully functional, has a spot of honor in our sewing room, and my wife and I have both sewn on it. We don’t use it much, but we know that it works just fine.

CD in Oklahoma

[Deleted]

I had a treadle once that belonged to my Great Aunt but stupidly let someone borrow it and never saw it again. I keep thinking I'm going to look for another one but just haven't done it yet.

[Deleted]

I missed out on a 1919 Singer 66 treadle that my paternal Grandmother had bought and owned while living on homesteaded land in Colorado. Those grand parents had crossed the Continental Divide by wagon migrating from Iowa. The machine was left at the ranch for my Mother when she married my Father. Grandma had another treadle machine that she took with her to live in town, and even took it along with her later in her 90s when she moved to a rest home. Very few other residents had brought along a sewing machine, so Grandma sewed for those residents that needed it. I don’t know what happened to that machine.

The reason that I know the age and model of the ranch Singer 66, is that my Mother traded it in on a new 1957 Singer 301A electric machine, and still has the paperwork from the purchase. Original cost was $195 plus $3.90 tax. Down payment was $50, and trade-in allowance for Singer 66 treadle G7380154 was $20. The Unpaid Balance was $128.90, and the Carrying Charge was $12.90, for a Time Balance of $141.80, payable to the Acceptance Department in 12 monthly installments of $11.82, due in Los Angeles the 15th of each month.

I imagine that the Singer Dealer destroyed the old 66, as was common to get old machines out of circulation, but if anyone ever comes up with the Singer 66 having serial number G7380154, I’d be interested in buying it.

CD in Oklahoma

[farmchix]

I have two old treadles, two old working hand cranks and two antique hand cranks. Love using them!

[Deleted]

I like handcranks. They’re not as hard to find a place to put them as treadles.

I made my first “quilt” on my 1910 Singer 28K2 just a couple of weeks ago. It was only 12-inches square, but had batting, backing, & binding on it, so I guess that qualifies it as a quilt. It went to join 15 other little quilts made by other men to become a friendship lap quilt. I sewed all of the quilt together with the machine setting on a wobbly TV stand. I guess that I like a challenge, because I wanted to see if I could do it under those conditions.

Before the quilt, the only thing that I’d used my 28K2 for was to sew a stuffed animal back together when me and the dog got too rough playing tug-a-war with it. I was able to sew it back together well enough to keep most of the stuffing from coming out, and looks wasn’t a factor. Those times, I just rested the machine on my lap in my recliner and went to cranking.

CD in Oklahoma

[manygoatsnmore]

I'd never seen a hand crank machine until I watched "Call the Midwife" on PBS. The nurse midwives used one. Ever since, I've wanted one. I figure in a pinch, if the grid was gone, I could hand crank my regular machines. It would be slow, but better than trying to sew by hand.

[farmchix]

I'm really slow on the hand cranks. I do better with the treadle, but I learned how to sew on a treadle.

[dw]

I have both and two old electrics...all Singers...love them! I think next winter's project might be to make a quilt on the people powered machines.

[jd4020]

Nice machines you all have here!
I have three treadle machines & I love them. One was my Gramas' Singer (needs some TLC), one belonged to my Mom and she didn't want it any more and the third a Singer, I bought at auction for $10.00 -actually $5.00 because they were trying to sell an electric New Home that no one wanted so threw in the treadle.
Is the New Home machine a good worker? I don't know much about that one. Didn't want to buy it, but, will keep it if it is.
My other machines include a black Haines model, a hand cranked small singer (the size of the featherweight) 5 older free arm singers, all the same, some for parts, & 2 sergers.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2015 3:15:50 GMT Billie said:

I have a treadle but it needs fixing. Needs a belt but I don't know where to get one. Need instructs on how to thread it, too. One day, maybe!

Hi, I know this is an older thread, but I have a treadle and for belts I use pantyhose. Much cheaper than the belts and very easy to find. I've been using pantyhose belts for a very long time. I use my treadle just about daily as we are off grid and I would have to hook up the inverters to use my brother machine and serger. I have a singer treadle that dates from the mid 1800's

[Billie]

Sept 22, 2015 15:03:27 GMT @lindamarie said:

Apr 18, 2015 3:15:50 GMT Billie said:

I have a treadle but it needs fixing. Needs a belt but I don't know where to get one. Need instructs on how to thread it, too. One day, maybe!

Hi, I know this is an older thread, but I have a treadle and for belts I use pantyhose. Much cheaper than the belts and very easy to find. I've been using pantyhose belts for a very long time. I use my treadle just about daily as we are off grid and I would have to hook up the inverters to use my brother machine and serger. I have a singer treadle that dates from the mid 1800's

Thanks for the tip!!  Will have to try that.  Any special way to do it or do I just tie and make it snug??

Glad you read MGM's message and found us over here.  Missed reading about Yogi!!

[Skandi]

I've only ever used a sewing machine once.. everything here is made by hand. though I will be borrowing mil's treddle machine to make some curtains, there's only so much hand sewing I'm prepared to do.

[Deleted]

Sept 22, 2015 20:35:25 GMT Billie said:

Sept 22, 2015 15:03:27 GMT @lindamarie said:

Hi, I know this is an older thread, but I have a treadle and for belts I use pantyhose. Much cheaper than the belts and very easy to find. I've been using pantyhose belts for a very long time. I use my treadle just about daily as we are off grid and I would have to hook up the inverters to use my brother machine and serger. I have a singer treadle that dates from the mid 1800's

Thanks for the tip!!  Will have to try that.  Any special way to do it or do I just tie and make it snug??

Glad you read MGM's message and found us over here.  Missed reading about Yogi!!

Billie.....just tie it snug. I use just 1 leg of the pantyhose.

[Deleted]

Sept 22, 2015 15:03:27 GMT @lindamarie said:

...I have a treadle and for belts I use pantyhose....I use my treadle just about daily as we are off grid.....a singer treadle that dates from the mid 1800's

I’ve heard that some folks use pantyhose for sewing machine treadle belts, but I’ve never tried it. (I’ve also heard that pantyhose used to work as a fan belt on a car back in the old days before serpentine belts, but I’ve never tried that either. Maybe it was because I never had a great lot of luck talking the gals out of their panty hose back when I was unmarried and breaking fan belts. LOL!)

I’m thrilled to hear that you use your treadle regularly! I’m hoping others will chime in that do that too. I like using a treadle, and use one of my treadles about 2-4 times per week. The one that I use most is the one that I mend denim jeans on for our little sewing service. It’s a Singer 319W that I have de-electrified by removing the motor and light, installed a spoked hand wheel, and set it into a stripped-down treadle stand that I call a “Mutt” (Multi-Use Traveling Treadle). I use assorted tables next to the bobbed-off treadle to expand my work area. The treadle is just more comfortable to use for most denim jean mending tasks for me. Although, I must admit, I do use an electric Singer 431G freearm machine to mend knee rips in jeans with slim legs so that I don’t have to take the side seam out to get to them. Any other rips, pocket detachments, or belt loop breaks get mended on my treadle.

I have accumulated a nice collection of treadle sewing machines, not to go off grid like you did, but in case the grid goes off of me! I don’t want to go off-grid, but my treadles would at the very least be good for entertainment should the grid go down at my house. When the power goes off, there sure is a lot of time to kill with little to do but wait for it to come back on.

What type of sewing do you do on your treadle?

CD in Oklahoma

ETA:  I tried to add a photo of my Singer 319W Treadle, but for some reason, I can't add photos from my computer anymore.  The photo now has to be on a website.  Bummer.

[TommyIce]

I've got an old Free Machine treadle in a parlor cabinet. Needs a new belt but otherwise is in working condition and I have sewn a few times on it. I originally bought the cabinet to drop in my BabyLock but never got around to it. I use it mostly for an entry table in the living room. Got all the original attachments and the manual for it too.

[Deleted]

Love your machine, TommyIce - especially the attachment holder and box inside the door. Very practical.

Olpoop - you're an inspiration!! Really enjoyed your posts on this thread.

I bought a Singer Treadle from a former work colleague's Mum about 20 years ago. Beautiful condition and with a heap of accessories. Fortunately I have a photocopied instruction book on how to use them. I've only tried sewing on it once or twice - just mucking about, really. I need to practice the treadling to get a good rhythm going (same with using my spinning wheel). Always in the back of my mind is the thought that I'd love to sew a special quilt on it.

Like some of you others, I look on it as something I can use in the event of electricity not being available for an extended period or if I ever go feral and live in an isolated cabin out the back of beyond, LOL.

[Deleted]

Sept 22, 2015 23:36:22 GMT TommyIce said:

I've got an old Free Machine treadle in a parlor cabinet.

Nice old parlor cabinet! I’ve got one that I think is exactly like yours, except mine is missing the left door panel. It’s not useable without it, since the door panel folds out to hold up the extension leaf. It didn’t come to me with a machine head in it.

Sacrifice a pair of pantyhose, or hand-sew a piece of clothesline cord together end-to-end for a temporary belt until you can get a leather one for it, so you can play with it a little bit?

CD in Oklahoma

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2015 8:41:17 GMT @kiwifarmgal said:

Olpoop - you're an inspiration!! Really enjoyed your posts on this thread.

Thanks for the compliment. I really like to use treadle sewing machines. My wife and I have 9 of them in our small frame house. Six of them are tuned up and ready to sew (Singer 319W, Singer 66-18, Singer 31-15, Singer 27K2, Singer 29K70, and White VSIII), and I use the 319W and 31-15 fairly regularly.

I’ve got several hand crank machines tuned up and ready to sew as well. When I have a choice between electric and “people-power”, I choose the people-powered ones.

CD in Oklahoma

[farmchix]

I have two treadles and about five hand-cranks. I'm partial to my treadles, because that's what I learned on. All of mine are in good working order.

[Deleted]

My mother in law had a treadle Singer, and I am supposed to get it. My FIL wants it to stay in the house until he is gone, but they are next door to us so it shouldn't go anywhere. I wanted to get it to try to make sure it works and get parts if needed, but he doesn't want me to have it yet. My sister in law (his daughter) wants me to go up stairs and get it sometime he is gone, but I think that would be wrong.

[aftermidnite]

I have a treadle I bought at a yard sale for $30 about 10 yrs ago ..I bought a belt online and have the photocopied book ..
I know I need bobbins and needles and someone to help me get the belt on ..I so want to use it but need help getting it up to work snuff ..
I learned to sew on my GM treadle machine and is what gave me the love of sewing and fabric ...

[calicokatie1]

I have a treadle and it also needs a belt. You can order them from Amazon but it's one of those things I've procrastinated. Maybe this winter I'll finally put that at the top of my list. I love the idea of sewing without electricity.

www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=treadle+sewing+machine+belts

[farmchix]

I just get my belts in Amish country at the harness shop.