[QUOTE=dixieheartless;6291891]I stumbled across this wonderful board last night while trying to research my "new" treadle machine. We always knew it was my great-grandmother's with a possible story of it being her mother's. The machine has NO markings on it other than "Use only genuine needles (blah blah blah)", a serial # of what looks to be 2998004 with a tiny E above that (or it could be an F) and two 4(s) above and to the left of the E (which is sideways). Then, that's to a different forum and someone's restoration, I looked and found "Eldredge" on the shuttle, which with a little research revealed that the machine is my great-great-granmother's as ggma was born in 1896. What I'm having trouble with and hoping someone can point me in some sort of direction is getting a more accurate year. The only serial # list I found for Eldredge lists only 6 digit #s and mine is 7 :(
Any help/insight/advice you can provide is greatly appreciated. I can provide any additional info or pictures need or want to see.


You can try the National SM Group which includes Eldredge brand name:

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/nsmco/info

Grant, I only shop for my tools and supplies at the OSMG store. I really don't like that junk at Walmart's and Joanne's. But, this noise is either coming from the bobbin case or the spool pin on top. I only notice it when I have a new bobbin in or a plastic spool of thread on top. I do have a felt pad on that spool pin. I don't hear it when I'm using a wooden spool of thread or that blackside bobbin. Would my FW have an aversion t plastic?

cherrybsixty

Sharon, thanks for your suggestion, I'll try that. I did try rubbing a little oil in the bobbin case with a q-tip to see if it would quite the noise. I really think it's the metal in the bobbins. I did purchase them from the OSMG locally. I would order from Sew-Classic, but by the time I pay for S/H, it cost the same. I'm going to check with my OSG and see if he has some older bobbins and trade him out.

The ones I got from April 1930s were not expensive and are serving me very well.

WHEE!!!!! You know you have FRIENDS FOR LIFE when they come and camp in the yard and then help move 168 sewing machines. WOW! Thanks! Glenn and Pat are the best! We got the old shop pretty much cleaned out and the new one stuffed with machines. Glenn and I made a BASTARD treadle this afternoon - sounds bad... It was an old Singer base and a top that used to hold a 66. The two cabinets married and we have a Singer 306 in a treadle. It isn't done yet.... Monday we have a few more to try to fix up. Does anybody need a fiddle base cabinet and irons? I have one that needs a good home. It is a reasonable price (what I paid) if you can pick it up. To ship it would be an arm and a leg and a pint of blood and your first born.... I could send it to Huntsville when Glenn goes home if someone can pick it up there or pick up here or somewhere in between. PM if you think you can do something. This is an empty treadle base and cabinet. It is marked Margarette or something like that. I also have some old Sears electric type cabinets if you can pick up - VERY reasonable. Everything has been moved but NOT SORTED out - that might take 6 months or so. Glenn says I need to get rid of a lot of it... True. True. I will have to figure out where all my various machines are hiding - cases all look alike. Pat labeled some but the guys were moving them pretty quickly. We must have found a good dozen empty cases I didn't know were in there - we just have to put machines without cases in them! We haven't moved things like stray foot petals, motors and some of the attachments. I have no idea where some of it is going to go. That empty room sure did shrink when Phil got the shelves up and then we filled them. I need to figure out a system for stashing stuff more efficiently than I have had. I'm not terribly organized. :D:D:D

WHEW ! ! ! what a job. they are FRIENDS FOR LIFE. enjoy your new shop and your friends.
karen

We played a little, too. We had a bonfire - tore out an eyesore old fence & burned a couple old chairs I had around - they were scary anyway. Ever watch a chair burn? Thinking about burning a couple cabinets....

Congrats on getting all your shop moved. I know that was a job and a half.... or maybe two jobs. Anyway, I'm anxious to see the 'new' space ...... I know it's a relief. I know how difficult moving can be..... Now it's time for FUN!!

Caroline; Excellent suggestion re location. I need to add that to my very minimal spreadsheet. Actually, I need to work harder on getting the spreadsheet up and going.