redstilettos

I posted this in the Main section and someone mentioned this area. I never knew this area even existed!

I'd love to have a treadle machine. Are some brands worth more than others? Are there specific questions I should be asking and things to look for when looking?

Thanks so much!
Chris

leonf

Loads of answers. First of all you might consider what type of bobbin you want to be using. If you are sewing now, you might want a machine that matches it.. Vibrating or transvers shuttle are pretty cool, but don't hold as much thread, I think. Your heart will draw you to one (or more)

Steelsewing

Treadle machines are still fairly common to find. The market value is all over the place. Where I live, I can buy an old Singer treadle for anywhere between 50 bucks, or 500. leonf is correct in that many of the older machines used shuttle bobbins instead of what we're used to. The 'simpler' easy to find treadle Singer 66 model has a round class 66 bobbin - a little more common, and you can occasionally find Singer model 15's in a treadle. (class 15 bobbins). Each of those take a 'regular' needle and bobbins you can still buy in a store - and the bits and parts for the treadle assembly are not terribly difficult to find. The White Rotary machines (FR) are also somewhat common, they have they're own bobbin, but it's still normal-ish to what we expect today in a sewing machine. The value of treadle machines is often in the eye of the seller... you can still find used treadles originally made in the 1950s for a reasonable price, but machines made in the 1850s...maybe not so much. Pre-1900 treadles are in a different market as collectables/antiques and may be difficult in finding parts.

redstilettos

Since I would like to actually use the machine, I think I should probably stick to a machine that isn't quite as old as the 1850's. I mean....I like the old look, but would still like it functional.

I'm excited about starting my sleuthing and journey!

RotaryQueen

Things to look for are, as you might guess, bobbins that fit the machine (several machines I have bought had bobbins that came from an incompatible machine), a bobbin shuttle and carrier (for transverse and vibrating shuttle) or bobbin case (for vertical round bobbin machines like singer 15 or White rotary) and that all parts of the irons are present. I have seen machines here that were missing the metal foot pedal, large metal treadle wheel and the pitman rod that connects those two. Push on the foot pedal with hand or foot, if the large treadle wheel rotates then you have the needed parts. Don't worry about the leather treadle belt, they are easy and cheap to replace.
Personally, for a first treadle I would look for a Singer 66 or a White Family Rotary because they are most common, cheapest, and they take the same needles (15x1) that you would use in today's home sewing machine. I don't want to deal with machines that use odd sized needles, partly because I don't know what damage might have been done if someone else used the wrong needle.

The cabinet condition is most important to me because you can swap out the head later if you find a better one. Of my three treadles, two have warping or separation of the wood veneer on the top. I don't care much because they were free or cheap and still functional (after a light sanding and soaking in linseed oil), which is what is important to me. The third ($55 off eBay) is so beautiful, only missing one of the pressed wood carvings on the front of the drawer. It is a Standard Rotary, which contradicts what I said earlier about singers and whites as a first machine. It take regular sized needles, which is good because I didn't know what to look for then!

Mickey2

As long as you have an alternative to red stilettos when sewing most treadles should be a good candidate for your projects Some say you can quilt on any machine, its' mostly about fine tuning and getting to know the machine. Some favor CB hook machines (or vertivally set bobbins) for freemotion work, like Singer model 15. There are a lot of variants on this particular feature, most of the old brands had derivatives of this type. Few older machines have stitch length lever with reverse, some did, but Singer didn't introduce on until around 1930 (1928). In general, these are very nice machines to work on, and are in general well worth fixing up for the jobs we do in 2018. Models with out reverse shouldn't be ignored, particularly if you keep a second machine with various more modern features.

My suggestion is take a look at any treadle in nice condition, they tend to be very capable machines. The long bobbin / shuttle models are up to the job, the trick with the bobbin is to wind a few in advance if you know you will use a lot of thread. There are various Rotary machines, Wheeler and Wilson No 9, Gritzner, Pfaffs, Singer,... As long as they are intact with bobbin case/shuttle and with a few accessories they can be ideal. If you fall for a machine you can most likely find parts for it, given time, patience and money anything can be done. Singers are easy, replacement parts are available from several sources.

I know some who have taken on an old Singer VS as a favorite, another has a Singer 28 as her best straight stitcher, others brag something awful of their W&W No 9,... I know someone who has a 1930s Vesta 302 zigzag in a treadle. I am very tempted to go hunt for one. I swear those Necchi BUs are well worth it too, they came both as treadle and electrical. I am fascinated by the early cast iron zigzaggers.

leonf

If you are gong to use it for quilting and don't mind going old. you may consider a Davis Vertical Feed. They can help a lot of layers go under the needle.

My Necchi Supernova has punch out plastic bits for treadle use. That would give you lots of more modern options, I don't know what cabinet it might fit though.

Steelsewing

Yeah, Supernovas have that 16 1/2 by 7 bed... some adjustments would need to be made, or a new top.

Cari-in-Oly

Should fit a Singer treadle, you just have to remove the spring assist/spacer from the right side of the machine spot.

Cari

OurWorkbench

It looks like it can be done in heels - per https://youtu.be/kVWEIk8xxf0

I'd recommend a 15-88 or a 66 from the 1920's.

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