Wow that is beautiful!! I love the story behind it. I have my great grandmother's Singer treadle, and it was well used too. She had 12 children and several grandchildren that she raised, but died when I was only 4 months old, so I never knew her. The machine sat in her old house for 14 years until I asked my grandfather if I could have it, since I liked to sew, and he said yes. His surviving sisters were quite upset, but he told them that they had been given a while to get it if they had wanted it, and that I was keeping it. The decals are horrible, but it is the most priceless machine I have.
Originally Posted by IT_Nana
I inherited my grandmother's sewing machine many years ago. I never knew her as she passed away at the age of 52 long before I was born. She and my grandpa homesteaded in northwestern Kansas and started their family in a sod house. As typical of many farm wives of that era, she sewed clothes for the entire family as well as raise a garden and chickens and cook huge meals for farm hands. I don't know how those women did it with none of the conveniences we have.
Anyway, this sewing machine is a Free brand and still worked the last time I tried it. Just yesterday I re-arranged my sewing room/guest room and set it up rather than having it folded up with the machine inside. Do you have any idea how old this is? The drawers all work, but I know there is a front piece missing in the middle. I've looked and looked for that piece, and one time about 10 years ago found a machine like it in an antique shop, but we were 1,000 miles from home in a small car and no way to transport it.
As you can see, this machine was very well used and well loved. My mother told me that her Mom gave it a fresh coat of varnish every year! My husband plans to refinish it...he said the wood should be very well preserved under all that varnish!
I'd appreciate any info you can provide.