Originally Posted by
paulettepoe
My friend inherited her grandmothers treadle machine. This was in one of the drawers. It is made of bone. has small holes in it. I wondered out loud if it might be a thread separater of some kind. Would appreciate any help. The machine was from about 1914-1920.
My Great Grandmother and both of my Grandmothers had them also - letter openers. Maybe your friends grandmother used hers when pulling the thread out from under the foot after re-threading the machine.