Originally Posted by grammyj
I know about treadle singers,I have one and learned to sew on one but I wonder about the handcranks. How do you use them? Do you have to turn it all the time?
Yessum, you do. :) Just as if you didn't use the foot pedal of your machine now, put a little "stick out" handle on the flywheel, and used your machine without electricity by turning the wheel....
Upside? They're fairly compact, need no electricity, and make beautiful stitches.
Downside? You only get to guide your fabric with one hand. Needles for some of them can be hard to find as well!