Franklin Treadle
 

I have a chance to purchase a lovely Franklin treadle in an oak parlor cabinet for $150.00. I have no idea whether this is a good price or not. Can someone help?

Jane Smith

I have no idea if that is a good price or not, but I have a very similar one in my living room. It was my grandmother's and was rarely used. The cabinet is beautiful. Everyone asks me if it's a liquor cabinet :shock:

I'm not versed in all things "treadle", so don't know what models are going for. I also don't know anything about the Franklin brand.

I do have several vintage sewing machines. Based on what I see, I think it's a pretty good deal, if you are buying it for your own use. The machine appears to be in great shape, with the decals intact. The cabinet doesn't appear to need refinishing, either.

Like most vintage machines, I don't think you can resell it and make a profit. Maybe some of the die-hard treadle people can advise you on the brand and what to look for. If you do not get a satisfactory answer here, go over to http://Victoriansweatshop.com. That's where many of the die hard treadle people are.

bkay

Franklin is a badge for Sears. The origin of the machine has several possibilities.

Nice looking parlor cabinet. That is an OK price for Kansas, USA IF it has all the pieces. Some treadle drives have disappeared in a century. Also make sure the head has the vibrating shuttle and the bobbins.

https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...38-579298.html

If it's what you are willing to pay and the machine makes your heart go pitter patter then it's a good price. Would I pay it? No, but I'm not looking for a Franklin treadle.

Cari

I doubt it, that looks like an electric cabinet not a treadle.

Cari

Cari is responding to a post that I deleted because it was the wrong Franklin cabinet. She is right.

This is what I hoped to post. GF's treadle in a parlor cabinet.[ATTACH=CONFIG]597630[/ATTACH]

That's a purty one Leon.

Cari

If it's just another old electric sewing machine, no, I wouldn't pay that for it.

After Cari said it was electric, now I see there are no holes for the belt (holes should be under the hand wheel on the bed of the machine). If it has no irons inside the cabinet, it cannot be converted back to a treadle (if it ever was one). I bet it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find a set of irons to fit that cabinet.

bkay

Id try to haggle and get closer to 100
Someone near me was selling one for $50 and i missed out