treadle needs a belt..//Cathie..I will tell you what I just learned! The belt on your tredle is prob and actually good enough to use. What I was shown was to figure out how much has been stretched out on the belt..you will find a slit where only a staple is holding that belt together...you cut it and restaple to the right tension. They condition them with mineral spirits...if you dont have that..use plain old vegetable oil. If I was in your situation...I would so try it!!:))This information came from a guy that use to help recondition them with his grandmother-SKeat