Monroe

A friend wants to know if there is a round bobbin treadle that will do reverse? Also what model Berninas can be treadled? Debating on features she wants. Thanks folks.

greywuuf

many Late model 66's had a reverse and early 66's were commonly found in treadles, same with 15's. almost any machine with an external motor and belt drive can be treadles....there are some later machine with a built in Belt guard that extends to far down the front and prevents a treadle belt from being installed. I personally use a 306 and know of some319's in treadle stands ( not recommended to go buy because of obsolete needle issues )

quiltbuddy

I had an old green Bernina treadle with maybe 12 different stitches. It came from the factory that way and I was told they made a limited run of them in Europe after WWII since many houses didn't have electricity.

Cari-in-Oly

There are new treadle machines being made, and not just the horrible 15 clones. I think Janome has a treadle model, your friend might check and see if Bernina makes one too.

Cari

ArchaicArcane

A Singer 411G will treadle. So will a 401G. They have a knock out for the treadle belt. That will do decorative stitches and reverse and should cost a lot less than most Berninas. Reverse isn't a function of the treadling, it's a function of the machine, so in theory any machine that is put on a treadle that is equipped with reverse should reverse.

The more complex the machine though, in general the more resistance when treadling.

Monroe

Thanks for all the information. The Janome treadles have some iffy reviews- she's narrowed it down to an all metal machine. Was the W&G the only treadle base with the "anti-reverse" function built in? I thought most treadle machines snarled or broke thread when reversed.

elnan

It has been many years since I used a treadle, but I believe what you are thinking of is that turning the handwheel backwards will snarl and break thread. In working with young people learning to sew, I am constantly saying "Never turn the wheel away from you, always toward you." They think that turning away from themselves will make the reverse stitch.

I have read that the Singer Fashion Mate 237 is a good choice for setting in a treadle. Take a look at this:
mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2012/11/singer-237-treadle.html

ArchaicArcane

When the treadle wheel turns backward and makes the handwheel go backward, yes the thread will snap or snarl.

When a machine is put into "Reverse", the handwheel doesn't turn backward, the mechanism that drives the feed dogs reverses direction. 2 very different things. Hence a sewing machine equipped with reverse will work just fine on a treadle if it's built or modified (i.e. handwheel changed, etc) to treadle properly.

ETA: This is just like an electric machine. If you throw an electric machine into reverse, the motor doesn't spin backwards. Same with a car. Think of the treadle or the motor as the same as the motor in a car. The feed dogs are the transmission - it determines direction and how fast you're making stitches (i.e shorter stitches are slower with the same amount of power provided than if you're making longer stitches.).

joycet

I have a Singer 201 made in 1955 that's a treadle. It has reverse on it. I've gotten use to it and have trouble when trying to use my 1910 Singer 66 that doesn't have reverse. LOL I'm getting good at threading it though!!! VBG

purplefiend

I treadle a Singer Fashion Mate 237, it uses a class 15 metal bobbin. It has reverse, does zig zag and straight stitch, its good for FMQ too. You don't have to change the hand wheel to treadle it; just remove the motor and light.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/391684...7650482954470/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/391684...7650482954470/

Sharon in Texas