A question for you guys. A friend bought a treadle machine at an auction because he liked the way it looked. We were talking about it and I went to look at it. He said he would sell it to me for $120 which is what he paid. I have a couple of questions that I hope someone can answer. It is in a very nice cabinet with a coffin top. There are no hinges(?) on one side and no key for the lock on the other side. Can these items be located? The cabinet is in great shape but the machine is a bit rough. The machine appears to run just fine. You push the treadle and it runs smooth. The decals on the other hand are basically gone. It appears that the middle decal on the base has been removed completely. You can see the outline of what it was but not one speck is remaining. There really isn't rust anywhere on the machine. I looked up the number on it and it appears to have been made in 1890. I'm attaching a couple of terrible pictures and the last one is NOT the machine but a picture I found that looks just like it. I'm not really looking at this to sew on but just wonder if it is worth the price.

Vintagemotif, thank you. I'm not having any luck on finding info about it though, not even it's alloted date or model or finding a manual or anything, and I'd really like to use it. Maybe I should just clean it up and refinish the cabinet and maybe sell it to someone who has more resouces about it. Then just stick with singers since it's easer to find info and parts and manuals on them.

Do you or does anyone else know if Billy's dismantling and cleaning process would work on this finish also?

Thanx, luv2learn

I believe Nancy has cleaned up a White. She should be of help to you as to information on the Whites.

Yes, Folks are cleaning out their closets and looking for quick cash. What I turned down today. I could have spent the day driving around the Bay Area picking up deals that had been posted on CL. There were two free Red Eyes, one in treadle and the other electric in cabinet. They have been picked up. There is a free Nelco still for the taking. Some 1956 Singer for $20, that is all the post says. A Franklin in treadle for $30.

And some other treasures to be had still.

Wilcox and Gibbs in a gorgeous treadle with manuals and attachments all for $75
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/atq/2188833031.html

Featherweight for $75
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/app/2188830509.html

The Wilcox and Gibbs treadle irons are what keep calling me; not the machine, but those gorgeous irons. Just one problem, I don't have the room for another treadle. I want a basement!

Hey Nancy,

Can you point me somewhere that I can get some info and find parts and a manual for my (new) old White Rotary? I'm hitting dead ends on everythig with her. Maybe that why most folks are sticking with the singer machines. They're easier to find out about. Any help from you or anyone else would be appreciated. Thanx guys and gals. Brenda (luv2learn)

I'm too disappointed right now, so I'm going to go to bed and maybe tomorrow will be more fruitful.

Do you have pictures of the cabinet? Sometimes the cabinet is worth more than the sewing machine that is sitting in it.

Now if I had money to blow, this is what I would pick up.

The Bernina for $500, that is still listed.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/atq/2187593086.html

And this Singer 7-33 $1200
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/atq/2186620639.html

and of course the Wilcox and Gibbs irons…

Plus, a larger house to store all those beauties.

Oh My! I paid $70.00 for my little Lotus but it's in great shape and works beautifully. Maybe I just got lucky. I thought it was just really neat looking with the fold-up flaps, it's great that it sews so nicely.

Oh Oh are you coming to Kansas????? I would love to have that machine, even make room in the bathroom, lol.

Not making it to Kansas any time soon. Sorry. I have looked at this machine off and on today. The sad part is the machine doesn't call me, nothing going there. But those irons are gorgeous!