Treadle Sewing Machines

[Renata L.]

Renata, will you please consider going to Lancaster in June? I have a feeling that we don't live far from each other, depending on what side of Washington DC you live on.

BJ, are you out there reading this? want to go?? Road trip!

I'd really like to, Susan, but I'll be fully committed to Chinese Whispers and a few other things that month so I am going to have to pass for this time.

[Rita C.]

Thanks for the nice comments about my grandmother's treadle machine. I am sure she would be so thrilled and surprised to have it admired. She and my maiden aunts took very good care of it, thank goodness. This has also fueled my interest in my other machine. Now I can't wait to get back to Wicklow to get it out of 'storage'. ops: Wish I had had enough sense to keep the table but maybe I can find a replacement on ebay? cjbeg you are so right about the treadle machine being so quiet in comparison to electric machines.

[Lotti D.]

I ordered the how to DVD (overhauling treadles) from treadle-on today, and had a short email discussion with Capt'n Dick. Seems a very pleasant and helpful fellow. Although he specializes in singers, I should be able to get some help for mine as well. Mine is a 'Helvetia' purchased by my grandfather at the Swiss Sewing Machine Factory Helvetia in Zurich, on 4. August 1938.
He paid 405 Swiss franks for it, minus 20 franks for paying cash on sight, and minus another 25 franks for the exchange of a singer sewing machine.

The machine has an oak table, a central spool and a special "zig-zag machine". This looks a lot like a walking foot.
I'm really looking forward to sitting out on my balcony this summer and sewing a quilt on the treadle! That is only project Nr ??? on my list.
Well, I can always make it a mug rug or five...

[Norma H.]

I have a Pfaff threadle, which is the one I learned to sew on. My mother bought it second hand the year before I was born, so we have had it for 64 years now. I don't use it now, it needs a new belt, but it sews well.
Maybe I should try to find more information on this machine.

Rita, your machine is a beauty

[Betty J.]

Well, if Lois bought Rita's treadle, we could engage the TQS jet to take us to Ireland & help her get it back to the States. Cathy could come with us and give us lessons on both types of machines.

Renata, will you please consider going to Lancaster in June? I have a feeling that we don't live far from each other, depending on what side of Washington DC you live on.

BJ, are you out there reading this? want to go?? Road trip!

Sue, that sounds like a load of fun if I can afford it. (I just paid my big tax bill that resulted from my retirement/rollover/hold back etc. and am feeling pretty low in funds) I'll reassess closer to June.

I want one of the new treadle machines that has all those stitches (12 utility stitches or something like that). After a great deal of hunting around, I found you can get a new cabinet with the treadle and belts and all from the Amish. I just can't figure out where to put it.

[Betty J.]

Rita, your machine is a true thing of beauty.

[Susan B.]

I want one of the new treadle machines that has all those stitches (12 utility stitches or something like that). After a great deal of hunting around, I found you can get a new cabinet with the treadle and belts and all from the Amish. I just can't figure out where to put it.

Did you find out how much they cost?

[Rita C.]

Lotti and Norma, any chance of a photo of the Helvetia and the Pfaff treadle machines? Do they look similar to mine?

[Betty J.]

I want one of the new treadle machines that has all those stitches (12 utility stitches or something like that). After a great deal of hunting around, I found you can get a new cabinet with the treadle and belts and all from the Amish. I just can't figure out where to put it.

Did you find out how much they cost?

Less than $300, but the cabinet and treadle mechanism makes the whole thing about $1400. Here are the links:

http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/se...FQWonQodKzMAQg

https://www.lehmans.com/p-1341-tradi...g-machine.aspx

Wouldn't this be a great thing to provide to third world sewists where power is limited?

[Norma H.]

Lotti and Norma, any chance of a photo of the Helvetia and the Pfaff treadle machines? Do they look similar to mine?

I will come back to making photos and search information on mine in a few days. It's not near as beautiful as yours.

[Catherine S.]

The web site: tfsr.org has lots of info on refurbishing people powered machines (treadles and hand cranks) to donate to third world countries. The site is free and you can use the info to get your own machine working. It is a shame that so many of the old machines are left to go to ruin. Between tfsr and treadleon you can do about anything for your vintage machines.

[Susan B.]

I wonder if the treadle Janome's would go into other cabinets with the treadle. I can ask my resource if she has treadles only. I know she has empty cabinets.

[Betty J.]

I wonder if the treadle Janome's would go into other cabinets with the treadle. I can ask my resource if she has treadles only. I know she has empty cabinets.

Good question...I'm fairly certain it would.

[Catherine S.]

No, the distance between the hinge pins are different on different brands. It can be changed, but not sure how easy it is to do. It is easier to get a cabinet made for your make of machine.