How to get a treadle machine safely to a new home in moving van?
#11
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
I am thinking of taking the head out before moving it into the car to take home - if I take it home that is. As far as I can tell, every machine can be taken out just by tilting it back (instead of inwards to close the cabinet) and loosening the screws a bit with a screwdriver. Cabinet in the back of the car, machine head next to me on the back seat so I can keep an eye on it. On the other hand, for the short trip (10-15 minutes depending on traffic) I might leave it in...
#12
I remove the head, and then wrap so it can't come open, and haul it upside down. they are much less likely to tip over that way, as even without the head they are a bit top heavy.
In a moving van, items are usually packed in tight together so something can not tip over. I'm normally hauling just a few and then there is room enough for tipping.
In a moving van, items are usually packed in tight together so something can not tip over. I'm normally hauling just a few and then there is room enough for tipping.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
Posts: 1,329
I moved mine from southern AZ to northern AZ in my minivan. Those machines are terribly top heavy, especially with the head in, so definitely remove it, even for your short move. If the tools and feet are with the machine, the screw driver in the tool kit will loosen the screws to remove the head. I also removed the drawers just because they were full of feet, tools, and thread (and 75 years of lint). Fasten the cover down on the cabinet with a sheet of newspaper and some painters tape and turn the cabinet upside down for transport.
#15
Upside down does seem like the best solution. In case that's not possible (it might be too high for the car) would on its side be an option? With on its side I mean putting what would be the back of the table on the floor.
(Sorry about all the questions, I am just really nervous about transporting the thing as I don't want it to break - and I haven't even technically bought it yet!)
(Sorry about all the questions, I am just really nervous about transporting the thing as I don't want it to break - and I haven't even technically bought it yet!)
#16
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
We had to put the back seats down to accommodate it in the hatch back. But we got it here with no more mishaps.
#17
I want to thank everyone for their advice. In the end, I didn't buy the treadle. The machine was very rusty. It looked to be mostly surface rust, but still. On top of that, for some reason the needle wouldn't get up and down. There was a little movement and then it just stopped, even though the wheel would keep turning. I opened the machine up to see if maybe there was some sort of blockage that was easily fixed. I could see that when the wheel turned the disk that has the needle column (for lack of the proper term) attached to it would turn about 1/3 of the way and then stop. Fiddling with the stop-motion screw didn't help. I think the problem was somewhere inside the machine where I couldn't get to it. Yes, maybe oil would have helped, but the fact that it was basically not working combined with the rust meant I didn't take the machine.
Maybe if the seller had lowered the price enough I'd have taken it, because the treadle table was in excellent condition. But this will be my first vintage machine and I really want a usable one. A little TLC - cleaning, polishing - is okay, but at the very least I want all parts there and the machine in working order. So I'll keep looking. I'm not in a hurry, so that's okay.
Maybe if the seller had lowered the price enough I'd have taken it, because the treadle table was in excellent condition. But this will be my first vintage machine and I really want a usable one. A little TLC - cleaning, polishing - is okay, but at the very least I want all parts there and the machine in working order. So I'll keep looking. I'm not in a hurry, so that's okay.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ManiacQuilter2
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
23
05-13-2013 11:21 AM
Ditter43
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
10
10-05-2010 07:53 PM