scott2hotty

My wife want to purchase a sterling treadle machine.
Its all there with cabinet but moves very slow as it seems hasn't been used foir many years I should had come with a can of decent penetrating oil I really like MOOVIT . story behind this but was said fixes most well,
Sure works well and if you have a faded Rhino green apply all over even the green that looks almost white.
I did it by mistake and isnt greasy oily and last couple months .
Does go a thing for worn out knees like WD30 was to help. LOl
If anyone know anything about these please let me know price is 150.90 nice cabinet but like we have well I will not comment but my dear wife wants for leather a jeans material.

OurWorkbench

I found three different Sterling sewing machines.
1. https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...b8fb92c3_z.jpg
2. https://external-content.duckduckgo....8f5&ipo=images
3. New Sterling Machine

Even if it is like #2, I would suggest reading through all of of number 3 as there is some very good information and/or links to more information regarding these old machines.

We like pictures. In order to post pictures on Quilting Board, you will probably need to reduce or compress the picture to a file size that is smaller than 2MB. How to post images can be found at https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...020-01-17-.pdf and on an ipad at Posting Pictures From an iPad

Don't forget to scroll over to the far right to find and click on the "Upload" button. As shown at Standard Sewing Machine Co. Paragon

I have found that only the big red "Reply" button or "Quote" work to give me the paper clip icon to work for adding pictures.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...p-location.jpg

Some additional info regarding reducing images at post #4 and images for the scroll and upload button can be found at #5 of quilt block ID?

Another way to post pictures can be found at 2021/2022, 2.5” Birthday Swap
And how to use an ipad to post pictures can be found at Uploading photos and Posting Pictures From an iPad

Or simply - Make sure pictures are smaller than 2MB
Click on red "Reply" button
Click on the paper clip icon
Click browse - choose picture/s. (only 5 allowed per post)
Once they show up as being loaded, Scroll over to the right side and click on "Upload"
After the pictures show up as being attached, you can close that window and go back to the screen to finish posting your post.

Some additional notes -
The photos generally need to be reduced to less than 2MB in size. I have heard of people sending an email to themselves as it will ask if you want to reduce the size.

I have an android phone and when I tried to reply on Quilting Board while in mobile view None of the options for adding pictures was available. However, there is an option down at the bottom left of the page that is for Full Site when I tapped on "Full Site" It then looked like the way it looks on my lap top. So it would have the Red Reply and the Go Advanced options.

Do Not Preview post.

scott2hotty

The number 2 sure looks the same -my wife says.
I get her to post what she has but she says the mint very well kept and being a gearhead I hope I can free it up so she can use
it for sewing as she wants it for purses and jean material..
She made well near 100 purses sells them at St.Albert Ab Canada weekend rents a booth.
She spends days and them sells for 20 to 50 CAD which costs 50 for for the table place but she loves meeting people .
I just wish she cover the real cost but if she happy I happy.
people cannot believe the cheap prices but she a giver type person
I have my hobby which cost a ton more so I hold my mouth shut!!!!
Do you think and hope this is OK if I spray it down wear I see moving parts I sure what perhaps what binding but she assures me it just tight it turns all the way though the bobbin is huge she took it out and she said it did work. 1 I not sure if this do this as a business so if i doing something wrong just wondering 150.00 cad but wondering your view on the cost, Is a singer a better machine? I know nothing really except years ago I bought an old singer back from landfill and we farmed small time and my wife took it back to the land fill
She has no sense of making art from junk basically and it so incredible one can get this creations to do something moving a ball water but I haven't made one in aa few year my lungs are down and no air no energy and ones brain I wear it 24/7
Man people were so incredibly smart like designing a sewing machine and all the other stuff, but my top one is who every designed is a carburetor thanks has so many features involved I still amazed . So many principles involved.
Well better run just wanted to say thank you so much I get my wife to put the couple up as you explain Lol I am no computer guy or cell phone I use in wi fi as free number can call the world too!!!! THANKS AGAIN
I bet you are in the USA and shipping be nuts to send both ways. Our money in Canada is always devalue by 30 to 40 % with the lib mob in change but believe he may be done sooner than he wanted. He not done a thing but give billions away and made Canada a laughing stock but he not a decent guy much more like a dictator we wonder ll my opinion only!!!!
But my great great grandchildren will be paying off his giving or what ever really happen to the trillions gone. That is more than every Prime minister put together and does not come close really. to what he spent on nothing Huummm makes one wonder

OurWorkbench

What machine has she been using for sewing purses? These machines were not really made for sewing leather or extremely thick stuff on a regular basis. Sometimes you can get away with it for a bit if it fits under the needle.

Some use penetrating oil to loosen things up, but then one needs to use regular sewing machine oil. I would also suggest only using sewing machine oil to clean the outside of the machine. See also How to Clean Up and use a vintage sewing machine - videos by Muv and Fav

I'm thinking that it may be a machine actually made by National. I'm fairly certain that it was made to use a different needle system than what is available today for machines. It is possible (or so I've read ) that if you drop the needle a bit that it will work. Or if you put in "15x1 rather than 20x1 needles " in a search engine there is another way to use more common needles.

AlZilla

Janey's advice, as always is spot on. I'd only add that $150CAD seems very steep for that particular machine. We haven't seen your exact machine, but if it were "mint", it wouldn't be partially seized.

It appears the Sterling is a run-of-the-mill badged treadle machine. Not a thing wrong with that, but there's apparently nothing special about it to command a premium. Here in the northern US I can find functioning treadles for under $50US almost any day. I don't know the situation where you are, but I'd at least take a look around your classifieds to be sure you can't satisfy the urge more economically.

That said, I'll admit I once spent $200US for a cabinet ALONE and drove 175 miles round trip to get it. Sometimes money is a secondary consideration.

scott2hotty

Hubby found your thread so I’m signed into his account to answer the thread comments. I’ve seen different brands of vintage machines in our area (Alberta Canada) selling for much more than $150; I’ve seen them ranging from $300 to $900.

I’m so impressed with the knowledge that you folks have on this forum, I spent hours last night going from one thread to another and watching videos, getting more information and just getting excited about my pending purchase. As well, hubby and I are very grateful for the speed with which you answered, it seems to be a thing of the past these days to have such helpful people willing to share their knowledge!

Since it sounds like this sterling machine might not be capable of sewing denim or leather, are there any recommendations? The leather that I use is not thick, it’s very pliable, just a little thicker than denim.

I would have posted a picture but I hadn’t studied the steps on posting pictures that had been provided. Suffice it to say that it looks almost exactly like #2 of the original thread reply.

OurWorkbench

I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of your machine.

While your machine may handle the thicker fabric, generally these old machine can handle it for a while, at least, but were not made for it on a regular basis. I don't know what machine to recommend for sewing mostly heavy fabrics.

As a side note, many machines are listed for sale for way more than what they can actually sell them for. It amazes me what some people will pay for machines on either end of the scale. Some very nice machines are actually given for free.

scott2hotty

I’m still having issues posting pictures as the menu doesn’t have a paper clip option. Perhaps because I’m using my iPhone?
I’ve done more research on my sterling treadle. I have been unable to find anything specific to Sterling though, except on this forum. After answering the yes/no questions on a Singer identification site, it suggested that my machine is possibly a 27. I took a closer look at the decals and on the base it is Egyptian inspired with a winged sphinx in the middle. On the right of the Sterling name is a pokey looking floret. The decals are actually in remarkable condition except for the name which is worn away. On the front after Ster… it’s almost faded away. On the back the ST is visible, fades then the ng becomes more visible. I have not been able to locate an identification plate anywhere. On the treadle it is a 45 degree crosshatch and the supporting metal at the back are 2 U shapes, upside down wide U topped with a more narrow U. I think the belt is rubber? It’s very round and appears that it could have some flexibility, it’s a bit loose on the fly wheel. The bobbin case is quite pointy and appears to be an early version according to the Wikipedia page. The bobbin winder on bottom right has a heart shaped piece on top of the round toothed circular piece. As well, where the bobbin goes into the machine it has 2 metal sliders; one opens to the back and the other, which I haven’t been able to open yet, would probably slide forward. In between the sliders is a round metal plate where the needle goes into.
I hope my descriptions are enough for any of you smart people to help me a possible age, whether it’s a remade singer? Any other info you can provide would be greatly appreciated

Farmhousesewer

Welcome to our group. I am on digest, so behind the pack in responses. I have also had login issues again.

I am a bit confused with your reference to Singer 27, but then back to the Sterling in the same/ next sentence. I am going to assume you referred to the Singer 27 because the Sterling is a shuttle machine.
Your description could be of hundreds of machines. The heart on the bobbin winder, the belt, the shuttle, decals, the shuttle slide plates, the treadle iron descriptions do not point to a specific machine. The Srerling name, as mentioned above is a "badged" name used by Davis, Standard and Goodrich.
I realize you are having trouble posting a picture, but I guess it does not matter, since our recommendation is that no domestic treadle is a good idea for your intended use.
If you want to sew leather you need an industrial machine. There are ones for light weight leather. Although not a treadle, I have my dad's Chandler which is for upholstery. He also sewed vinyl, plastic and the like. I have multiple industrial machines and my biggest challenge is to find the right diamond shape feed dogs that will move the leather, but not mar it. By the way, my Singer 29 (not yet in service) is a boot patcher, a needle fed machine and one of my two Singer 31-15s is a treadle. Although the 31-15 is consideted a Tailor's machine, I can see me sewing my light leather on it. In my case, I repurpose jeans and service uniforms, with new canvas and soft leather. All of my other Industrial Sewing machines are either clutch or servo motors.
As mention, most Industrial Sewing machines are for Single type use... lingerie, gloves, buttonholes, jeans, ... This might interested you
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mac...ny/model-list/

Side note, my experience with buying machines is different than that mentioned. My experience with the costs of treadles in the US has ranged from $50 to $500.

Best of luck in your venture. We'd be interested in what you decide.

OurWorkbench

I asked someone that has an iPhone and has posted pictures from same and the response I got was
"I start the usual way with clicking on “go advanced “, and then click the paper clip.
Click on Choose File.
Select Photo Library.
In the bottom left corner, click on Options, and then choose Medium.
Hit “Done”.
Select the picture you want and then click Done.
Upload and post as usual."

I don't know if the "Upload" button can be seen on an iPhone, but perhaps you will have to scroll over to the right

As Maria mentioned a lot of different companies made vibrating shuttle machines besides Singer. Some companies made machines and if other companies bought some they could put whatever name they wanted on the machines. The are called badged machines. I found a New Sterling made by National, then there is Sterling listed as a Davis made a machine as well as Standard.

If the instructions that I have given don't work, private message me and I will see if we can figure out another way to see your machine.