DH & I went up to the farm to turn on the heat for Saturday morning coffee. While we were there, I asked him to show me the treadle upstairs. Oh, he says, Aunt Edythe's machine? We head upstairs, it is a Climax in a 4 drawer treadle cabinet. (Serial # 3137596). Found the shuttle, but no bobbins or other accessories. Does still turn.
Then, he says, Mom's machine wasn't fancy like this one. (His mom passed in 2014 at the age of 96.) I ask where that one is...in the attic. We got up into the attic, string the light up. After some searching we find it tucked behind his brothers stamp collection. There is no top, and its back is to us. It is a New Home, appears all black. (Perhaps the #4, 2 drawer treadle cabinet?) Machine has the older, curved shape. Couldn't get the plates open, but one had the patent dates on it...a tiny bit corroded but I think would clean up easy. Peering at it in the shadow of the light behind me I think I saw a bobbin in the shuttle. Still turns, a little stiff at one point in the revolution but not at all bad. I think this machine most likely belonged to MILs mother in law who passed away in the 1940s, and had immigrated from Sweden I think in the 1880s.
Neither machine had needles.
Those machines will probably stay in the farmhouse attic another 20 or 40 years...along with the stamps, the vintage 70s frog cookie jar, old birthday cards from the '40s, furs and deer mounts, flour sacks and rocking chairs, white wicker baby buggy, victrola, Eastlake mirror and victorian side table.
But if I can take
one out, which would you recommend?
