Biggest harp for treadle machine?
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
I don't think you will find the harp size in older DSM that you find in the modern ones. My opinion is that quilters in those day pieced by machine but they quilted their quilts in quilting groups.
#3
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Lorenzo, CA
Posts: 5,361
There were many older machines with large harps. The height and width of the harp space is part of the database I am compiling. when finished we can run a report/chart. Here are just a couple in my collection..
1872 - Howe C (Long Arm)
1876 - White VS1
1880 - Wheeler Wilson #10 (IMO - The best for quilting, High/Low speed, huge harp, smooth as glass, tremendous punching power)
1885 - Singer VS2 ( IMO the second best on this list)
1872 - Howe C (Long Arm)
1876 - White VS1
1880 - Wheeler Wilson #10 (IMO - The best for quilting, High/Low speed, huge harp, smooth as glass, tremendous punching power)
1885 - Singer VS2 ( IMO the second best on this list)
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,131
You did say Treadle. Take a look at the sticky titled "Quilts made using Vintage Machines". They love to tell you about their treadle machines and show the beautiful work turned out.
Last edited by elnan; 06-19-2015 at 09:10 AM. Reason: add more
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 888
I've always felt that the harp is shrinking as you go from vintage to modern day machines. I think it is on Sewclassic where coke cans are stacked in the harp to compare. While living in Wenatchee, a friend who could afford any machine she wanted, went to a sewing machine shop and said she wanted a machine she could quilt her tops on. She did not want a long arm, already had other machines with all the bells and whistles, just the best and most reliable domestic machine for quilting. She came home with a fully serviced electric Singer 15-91 with accessories.
You did say Treadle. Take a look at the sticky titled "Quilts made using Vintage Machines". They love to tell you about their treadle machines and show the beautiful work turned out.
You did say Treadle. Take a look at the sticky titled "Quilts made using Vintage Machines". They love to tell you about their treadle machines and show the beautiful work turned out.
#8
Cobbler's machines oftain where used with a removable bed, much like the ones used with modern day free-arm machines, so they could do other kinds of work that need a flat bed. Some of those machines have astonishingly long harps.
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Centralia, WA, USA
Posts: 4,890
From what I've seen unless you're buying a modern machine designed especially for quilting most modern domestic machines will have a smaller harp than an older straight stitch domestic machine. It's a combination of changes in style and the fact that zigzag machines have a lot more going on in the upper arm than straight stitch machines.
Rodney
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