This is the sewing machine I learned to sew on. It is also the sewing machine my mother learned to sew on. It was my Grandmother's and she got it in 1920, the year she married my Grandfather.
It was giving to me on my tenth birthday, because my mother and her siblings decided to give my Grandmother her first new machine since she got married, a top of the line electric sewing machine for her 65th birthday. The store where they bought this new machine was only going to give them $10 to trade in for the treadle one, so my mother decided to pay the $10 and give it to ME!! So much better than any toy sewing machine.
It was giving to me on my tenth birthday, because my mother and her siblings decided to give my Grandmother her first new machine since she got married, a top of the line electric sewing machine for her 65th birthday. The store where they bought this new machine was only going to give them $10 to trade in for the treadle one, so my mother decided to pay the $10 and give it to ME!! So much better than any toy sewing machine.
When you open the lid, there is a wire that pulls the machine up into working position.
I haven't pulled it out in a long time. I keep thinking I should clean it up so I can use it when we loose power, which happens more often that it should.
There are quite a few websites that support the use of treadle machines. They offer tutorials for cleaning and lubricating old machines and sell parts. If you are interested, I think Treadle-On is the best. Click here to check it out.
There are quite a few websites that support the use of treadle machines. They offer tutorials for cleaning and lubricating old machines and sell parts. If you are interested, I think Treadle-On is the best. Click here to check it out.
All the parts are here except the manual. I found one on Ebay a few years ago.
It is so fun to see the instructions and illustrations in that book and then look at my machine and it looks exactly the same.
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Someone about 100 years ago read this booklet and sewed herself something! |
There are SO many feet! A few I'm not quite sure what they do.
These feet will make double turned hems in 5 different sizes.
I'm guessing this foot guides folded fabric under the needle to make large tucks.
This one looks like it helps to apply ribbons and tapes on straight.
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This foot makes lots of tiny little tucks, like gathers. I have a foot like this for my 1970s Bernina.
This one folds and applies bias tape.
And they all fit into this sturdy metal storage box.
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Well, of course, every part of this machine is metal. That's why these old machine still work so well when cleaned up.
This machine will only straight stitch forward. It doesn't even go backwards, but I really used this machine, a lot, all the way through high school. It was very cool to be able to sew anytime I wanted, without asking permission or waiting until my mother's electric machine was unoccupied.
I tried all the feet, made doll clothes, my clothes, costumes, curtains for my bedroom and presents for people.
If you've never seen one of these in action there are a few Youtube videos you can watch. This is the best, I think. It shows the correct placement for the feet is one foot forward and one foot back, not the feet side by side like another video I saw.
I tried all the feet, made doll clothes, my clothes, costumes, curtains for my bedroom and presents for people.
If you've never seen one of these in action there are a few Youtube videos you can watch. This is the best, I think. It shows the correct placement for the feet is one foot forward and one foot back, not the feet side by side like another video I saw.
What was your first sewing machine experience? I love stories.
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