Originally Posted by
Crazy Quiltin Robin
...... Has anyone ever seen a machine that the bottom part ...the treadle is hollow metal not cast iron .... this little girl has a metal base .... she is Singer made in 1940 in New Jersey .......
Hi Robin,
Yes, one model of the Singer straight-leg treadle stand was hollow. I believe that they’re called “pressed steel” and they were popular in the 1940s. I have one that I use multiple, shortened, modified tops on that I call a MUTT (Multi-Use Traveling Treadle) because the tubular design reduces the weight compared to cast iron, and makes it lighter for loading, unloading, and hauling the treadle stand to remote venues. It had a normal-sized cabinet on it when I got it.
Singer was still making cast iron straight-leg treadle stands up until 1960, at least in Germany, but the tops put on them were larger than a normal USA treadle cabinet, plus, they had wheels on one end for easier movement. I’m not sure when they quit making cast iron straight-leg treadle stands in the USA.
CD in Oklahoma
ETA: Oopps! The German treadle has wheels on both ends.