Dang phone & fat fingers. plus i cant see what i just typed and cant move the cursor to correct misspelllings. sorry (i'm only mildly illiterate :-)

Piano wire or music wire is what most spring winder type people use. Then you "stress relieve" the metal after shaping it in the oven. DH is napping (why I'm not after 22 hours of driving and 12 hours of teaching over the last 3.5 days, I have no idea!) but when he gets up, I'll ask him for his links. He did a spring for a 115 and for my FW table.

Yay! I fixed it. I got the part from a repair shop and the guy was so rude. I always tell my kids that its not what you say but how you say it. I won't be going back in there ever again. But anyway, I got my hands on one of the repair books from the early 1900's and was able to get it fixed by myself. It sews so beautifully now.

Good for you!! I don't know how you got so lucky as to find a SMRG who would still happen to have a tension spring for a 100+ yr old White, but maybe you shouldn't alienate him too quickly. I mean, unless there are others around. I wouldn't be able to find something like that in a store in the whole state of Oregon! Glad it's running well for you now.

Yeah I wouldn't be so quick to say I won't go back in there, but there is another repair shop in the next town over and they are much nicer in there. They work on treadles too.

I guess treadles are still in enough qtys for off grid type situations
and folks who aren't afraid of work! (my ignorant perception of Alaskans)

:o I'm actually in Colorado. Long story.

Lol, now I understand! I was thinking wow, you found that in a little shop in Alaska?!!