peddle machine

Reply Subscribe

Page 4 of 7

« First

Last »

Thread Tools

02-09-2010, 12:49 PM

#31

Teresa 54

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Long Island, NY

Posts: 986

for years I would tell quilters of the wonderful machine I inherited from my great grandmother. I went on the web site to get the year of this Singer Treadle- 1880-1885. I was so excited I went to my Dad and told him the year, he was looking at me strangly and said "what are you talking about?; My grandmother didn't sew, it was my GRANDFATHER - he was a shoemaker in Brooklyn NY, he used the machine to sew the free motion fancy swirls on the leather shoes worn by wealthy men on 5th ave in New York City" - I was totally shocked! He made 12 pairs of shoes a year and raised 10 children on what he made. Teresa

02-09-2010, 02:46 PM

#32

katiebear1

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: lexington ky

Posts: 1,418

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlee

You sound like my hubby! ;) :)

It's the nostalgic feeling behind using a machine that our grandmothers and great grandmothers used...wanting to experience a simplier time of our history...

I love using the treadle...

Plus they are so cool looking..They weren't just a sewing machine but a piece of furniture. Like the antique radios and televisions.

02-09-2010, 06:45 PM

#33

Lostn51

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Bikini Bottom

Posts: 5,652

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBoo

One thing I do remember, do not stop the treadle by putting your foot underneath the peddle! LOL

No that is a bad thing to do! I treadle barefoot so I know how it feels to get your foot under the peddle by accident. :oops:

Quote:

Having lived for over a year with no electricity I can tell you it's not at all cozy and quiet living the simple life. The nostalgia wears mighty thin in a few weeks. When we did get power, it was solar. Solar power is not that reliable or great. Even the water heater was solar. I hated it. Sold the 'homestead' and moved to the city!

The solar panels I bought came off of an office building that was torn down in Chicago and just one should be enough to run a house but I have 5 of them and only paid a grand a pop for them. The contractor that I picked them up from said they listed for over 15 to 20K each brand new. I even have all of the battery racks and the inverters that came out of the same building. The panels are around 8'x25' each, so they aren't the residential type by far. But I am going to power my home (a little over 4200sqft) and a shop I am going to build.

I should not have any issues with the power (I will even have 240v3 phase) but like I said earlier there is that guy Murphy that his laws will bite you if he ever gets the chance! :lol: :lol:

Billy

02-09-2010, 07:27 PM

#34

Dani

Senior Member

Join Date: Jul 2009

Location: beautiful Olympic Peninsula

Posts: 626

I sewed doll clothes for my 8" Muffie doll on my grandmothers treadle machine (I think it was a White). I wish I had it now.

02-10-2010, 03:38 PM

#35

butterflywing

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: currently central new jersey

Posts: 8,623

Quote:

Originally Posted by omak

because electrical power is not an absolute guarantee. <wave>

is there a guarantee for foot power? :lol:

02-10-2010, 03:41 PM

#36

butterflywing

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2008

Location: currently central new jersey

Posts: 8,623

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonpi

I have heard rumors it produces buns of steel.

and callouses. you should have seen my grandma's feet. and she didn't have buns of steel. that's just a rumour. :lol:

02-10-2010, 03:50 PM

#37

Kyiav10

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2007

Location: Williamsport Pennsylvania

Posts: 3,361

I owuld love to have a treddle machine. I love antiques, not that I have any but I do so love them. Unfortuately it looks like I may never have one.

Kyia

02-10-2010, 05:11 PM

#38

omak

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: Central Washington State

Posts: 5,997

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterflywing

Quote:

Originally Posted by omak

because electrical power is not an absolute guarantee. <wave>

is there a guarantee for foot power? :lol:

As long as I own the whips and chains (and padlocks) you BETCHYA! LOL <wave>

02-10-2010, 06:38 PM

#39

Lostn51

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Bikini Bottom

Posts: 5,652

Funny thing is I am selling off all of my vintage emachines so all I will have is treadle operated machines. I have only one left and I am really torn about if a want to sell it or not. The 1963 Pearl Iris Kenmore that is 1 of less than 4000.

I might by another electric machine but it will only be so I can flip it and buy another treadle. Right now I have a house full of them along with my studio.

Billy

Attached Thumbnails

02-10-2010, 06:49 PM

#40

earthwalker

Power Poster

Join Date: Jun 2009

Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posts: 10,357

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonpi

I have heard rumors it produces buns of steel.

That's it...I am definitely stepping up my search!! Saw three in an antique emporium last week....not working...pretty rough condition and over a thousand Aus. dollars each. They are hard to get at a good price here on the west coast. I have wanted one for years, so am looking for the "right" one at a reasonable price.

Just love the idea of using treadle power to produce quilts...somehow they just seem to belong together. They also look so fantastic....and just think the stories they could tell....