mcadwell

How hard would it be to put a motor on a 1904 Singer 27-4 treadle machine? I have rheumatoid arthritis and haven't been able to enjoy my treadle machine recently (thanks to my hips) so have been entertaining the idea of motorizing it.

There isn't a motor boss on my machine but I see there was, at one time, a cabinet motor that used the belt to run things. My research into this has given me minimal results so thought I'd try here.

Are these motors even available anymore? If so, how hare are they to install, use or maintain?

JoeJr

I think this might be a tough project. Assuming you could find the appropriate motor and bracket you could mount a motor on top of the table, and use either a belt or direct drive, or mount a motor under the table and use a belt drive.

Take a look at the motor in this thread, and the link Ourworkbench included on this Hamilton Beach motor.

White Rotary with reversible motor

I am seeing motors like this on ebay, and if it has the base, as pictured in the old advertisement Janey found, it might just set right on the table top and work as a direct drive. The motor is reversible so you would be able to get it to turn in the needed direction.

OurWorkbench

What Joe said.

Singer did make a motor that used the treadle linked to a controller and motor, but that was probably well over 80 years ago. I have a 27 that they drilled holes into the back of the pillar for the motor mount and it is a pain to attach and adjust.

There was someone on another forum that put a motor in a box behind a Davis that did not have a motor boss. So it can be done.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

mcadwell

Thank you for the pointers. Much appreciated!