I have quite a few friends from down under from another forum I am a member of, and they tell me that hand cranks and treadles are all over the place. But they are in Sidney, Melborne, Brisbane and Tasmania pretty much on the other side of the country.
A real dear friend just got back from a trip to the UK and she made off with a palate of vintage machines including F&R's, Damascus, a few Nationals, W&W's etc.. I am waiting for the container to arrive and go through customs so I can see the photos of the machines.
In fact she is going to recreate the Rajah quilt that was sewn on the ship that was taking prisoners from the UK to Tasmania in the 1800's. Come to find out her Great Great Great Grandmother was on the ship and possibly helped with the stitching of the quilt. It is shown only for a week or so every once in a while in certain museums and will be in the UK next year.
Now if I could only get good enough to take one of mine to the state fair....... :roll:
Billy