I meet my g/f's at Denny's every night for tea and maybe a lite snack. An elderly bachelor gent joins us. He lives in the house he resided in all his life. His mother passed about 25yrs ago and believe me.....the house hasn't been touched since before she died! Classical bachelors pad.

He knows I quilt and asked me "How would you like to sew on an old manual (treadle) sewing machine like my mother did?" I said "yeah, would love it". He looked at me with surprise and said his mother's old treadle is sitting at the house and he was going to pitch it! No way! He thinks I'm crazy, after all, why would you want that "old thing" compared to the new computerized one you have?
He doesn't understand and no reason to explain it to him!

Well anyway, he is giving me the old treadle! It'll be a few months. He has to dig it out of the corner and dust it off. But anyway....I will have it and it won't be tossed!
Bet they find a lot of treasures in the trash.
It wouldn't surprise me if the manual is with it. If not, all I have to do is google the serial number......correct? Google should give me the information I need to operate it, won't it?

I will see how it operates after I oil it.

Yeah! I love mine it runs so beautifully!! Check out the vintage machine section lots of great info!!!!!

You're a very lucky lady! I learned to sew on an old Singer Treadle machine. The only thing you did to operate it was pump the pedal! I often wish I had my mothers old machine, but she junked it when she bought her new plastic machine. I was horrified when I found out! Have fun with it & yes, I would think you could google the manual. If not, one of the folks on this board might know how to get one.

I remember my mother having one she sewed on until I was in high school. I don't remember what she did withit. It had the long shuttle and the little long narrow bobbins.

can you return his kindness by helping him clean up enough to reach the machine sooner? recruit a friend or two to help? win/win ;-)

Patrice....we have all offered to help him clean up but he won't allow anyone in his house! I would be over there now clearing a path! lol

Wow, that's awesome. Lucky girl!!! :thumbup:

I bet he has more good stuff in there, ask him if there is anything else he wants to toss out!

Lucky you!!!!!!

You go , girl.

Yeah!! You are one lucky lady!

Awesome. So relaxing to sew on, great when the power goes off. Enjoy.

Lucky you!!!! Can't wait to see pictures.

That is awesome!

Sounds to me like you need to offer to help him get it out. Maybe you will find some other treasures too. I would take it dust and all.

I learned to sew on a treadle machine. It was an old Singer that my mom inherited from her Great Grandmother. It was a fairly new machine at the time but it still sews beautifully. my mom still uses it.

how Wonderful that he Considered mentioning it to you. I'm excited for you! There might be all sorts of vintage quilty treasures stashed about... I have my grandma's treadle. Last time I remember her using it I was around 10 or 11. I've had it in my living room since 1975. I've never even Considered using it until I joined this board. Come the new year, I'll be figuring it all out. Have Fun!

Congrats! I bought a threadle that my DH got up and running. I am not good at it yet but hope to be.

I'm with PatriceJ ---- go offer to help him! You just don't know what will happen before he'll get to it!!!!! What a great offer!!!

What a find. I'll bet after some cleaning, adjusting it will work better than any of the newer machines. My grandson just
had one passed on to him. He is delighted and gave it a work
over and it is sewing just great.

Lucky you !!

Flo in NNY

That is awesome. Sometimes I wish they would make a modern zigzag machine run by treadle. You get a lot of control with a treadle.

I'd hint if there was any other OLD JUNK that he wants to get rid of, to ask first as lots of us would love to have some of the older things.

To repay his generous offer I am going to make him a quilt.
I bet he doesn't have one!

What is a simple, easy fast pattern? Any suggestions?

she offered. he declined. it doesn't sound as though she'll be able to convince him to let her and her friends help.

My father told me recently that he still has my great grandmother's machine stored. I plan to collect it next time I'm visiting them and bring it back. Even if I never learn to operate it, it will be a wonderful piece for the house.

Cheers, K

Oh wow, Congratulations Sandilee!! That is a neat story!

I think you had better ask him what else he is going to pitch before he does it! LOL

I have my grandmother's old treadle machine sitting in my dining room and have never used it but it sure looks great sitting in the alcove with seasonal decorations on it. I guess i should get a new belt put on it and try it out. Does any one know if it is difficult to put the belt on?

Judy in Michigan

Isn't it wonderful that he thought of you and spoke up before discarding that machine! A fella would never think of junking his dad's prized car thats been sitting in a garage for a few yrs - it would be treasured as an antique auto - same goes for Mamas sewing machine!

My daughter and I use to take piano lessons from a confirmed bachelor hoarder. When one was taking lessons, he actually would let the other clean a little- not throw anything out but at least we felt like we helped a little.

My Mom had a Singer treadle machine that I learned to sew on when I was a little girl. When she died, it was at my brothers house and when I went to visit him, the machine was sitting out in the yard, some drawers were missing and it had been rained on. I was furious because she kept the machine in tip top shape. I should have brought it home, but at that time didn't think about restoration. Every time I think about this I get upset.

I bet his mother even has fabric some where in there. lol should ask him about it???

Awesome! Sounds like a great friendship!

I'm jealous. I want a treadle machine. I just inherited an
old Singer Feather Weight. DH and I are refurbishing it. I can't wait to try it.

Are you going to make him something using the machine as a "thank you"? Wouldn't that be cool?

I have one but needs a belt. My girls think it is such a jewel!

it is easy enough to get a belt, try your local sew n vac place. Love your crazy avatar quilt BTW!

if you need any parts, get in touch with lostin51. he can supply what you need at very reasonable prices.

as for helping him clean up, the place probably hasn't been cleaned up in years and he's too embarrassed to have anyone see it. a very common occurrence when aging children take care of old parents. i'll bet that when it's time for you to have it, he has it right near the door or out on the porch or something. bake him a thank-you cake or cookies or something else homemade. he's sure to appreciate that.

I remember my mom making me dresses and my 5 brothers and dad shirts on hers back in the 50's.[Earlier but I was born in 53] I always told her I wanted it . In 74 I got married and she still used it. We went to Germany,for 9 yrs and mu one rotten brother[who is sooooo greedy and collected antiques] talked her out of it. I was so upset. [He had no wife at times and didn't sew] Well, to make a story worse, A year or so he got married for the 4th, yes I said 4th time, his new wife got him to have a huge auction and sold it. We don't talk. He screwed that up when he was horrible when my dad passed] I only found out cause I seen his wife's FB and she had a bunch of pictures of what they sold. I was just heartbroken. Guess that is life but still hurts.