Bottle Blonde

VICTORY GOES TO THE DETERMINED WOMAN!!!!

I bought a treadle machine a few months ago and with help from the QB members I was able to identify it as a National Vindex B machine - era late 1800's to early 1900's. This machine has the bullet shaped bobbin case - aka - vibrating shuttle. I was very lucky this machine has the original instruction book along with directions for using the attachments and an illustrated parts and price list.

I took it apart and cleaned it up shortly after getting it, but we moved in April and other things took my time and attention. Well, yesterday I decided to finish what I had started. I found help online and was able to put the belt on by myself. Then I practiced for what seemed like forever to wind a bobbin properly. I then practiced the treadle action, which is difficult for a clumsy person like me - pinched my bare toes a couple of times before I got smart enough to put on shoes and put both feet on the treadle! Getting the proper tension was a test of my patience - decided to sleep on it after struggling with it for 2 hours - and this morning I finally got it right.

I had to improvise a few things - like using card stock to make a throat plate - the original went missing - I hope it is around here somewhere. I used a paper clip to replace the missing thread guide near the needle and my bobbin winder is missing a small piece and I have to use my hand to guide the winding arm.

I know the treadle machines don't rock everyone's world, but I like it and plan to use it. I am proud to have been able to make this machine function again! Now I just need to practice that treadle action - it's harder than I thought it would be. LOL

Thanks for letting me brag to you all ---- my husband gets a kick out of me, but doesn't really understand my excitement. He looks at me with his eyes glazed over --- kinda like I look at him when he replaces the brakes on the truck and then explains the whole procedure to me!

wvdek

Tee hee, I understnd that.

ksea

I understand completely, and good for you for getting it working, keep practicing and I bet you will have it completely mastered in no time at all.

CoyoteQuilts

Some time ago I was watching a lady on TV (guest on some quilting show) and she had one foot on the front of the 'pedal' and the other on the back. She said she had better control that way and even stitches.

As I haven't used a treadle in almost a thousand years I can't verify this information. I do know that when I was a teen a friend had a treadle and she made all her own clothes with the thing and did beautiful work.

Good luck and enjoy your new baby.

Lostn51

Well a Congratulations to you!!!! I am so glad you were able to get it up and running.

You know what I use for missing slide plates? I go to the hobby shop and get sheet styrene (comes in tinted colors and clear) and I just cut the shuttle plates out of them and with the Styrene I can watch the shuttle do its thing while I am sewing.

Billy

Bottle Blonde

That is a good idea for the slide plate. I used the cardstock as a temporary fix, but knew I would need something else if I can't find the original. To be honest - that one is so pitted and bumpy - I probably shouldn't run fabric over it (and it is the devil getting it to slide open and closed) In what dept of the hobby store can I find the styrene?

I would like to find a replacement for the piece that is missing from the bobbin winder. I have the heart shaped cam - and my spooler distributor arm will follow it properly while moving to the left, but will not move to the right by itself - I have to hold it against the cam to wind a bobbin level. According to my illustrated parts/price list book - there should be a small piece that is oblong with an oblong opening in the center - it is just a bit wider than the cam - and is held in place on the cam with one of the small screws that is already in the cam (I wondered why there were 2 screws in the cam) I guess this piece pulls the distrubutor arm tightly against the cam ----- does any of this make sense? This little booklet of parts is priceless - what a huge help it has been to me!

One question --- is there a way to tone down the clunking noise? I find it charming, but it drives my dogs crazy! They keep running between my feet to bark at it! On the internet I found mention of the pitman(?) in regards to noise control but never found the tute on how to adjust it.

THANKS A BUNCH!

Stitchnripper

congratulations on your accomplishments and handy solutions to the missing part. Treadle-ing is a wonderful experience, I think.

skydiver70

Congrats! on your Treadle Sewing Machine. I love them, even though I haven't used mine in a while. I need to get the guy out to clean and adjust mine (he doesn't charge much of anything to do this). Mama used hers to make all my clothes when I was going to school (eons ago!). She would use the feed sacks that you could get back then. When I was in the sixth grade, she made me a dress which I thought was the prettiest I had ever had. Daddy would buy the feed for the chickens and other animals and Mama would pick out the color sack and try to get several the same pattern and color.

quilt addict

Congratulations! Great job. I hope to join you soon in learning to treadle.

Gal

Good for you, thanks for bringing back the memories of my DML teaching me to use her treadle machine back in the 60's, actually when I reflect on that I think it was just that she wanted help cutting and turning all the sheets, does anyone else remember doing that to get more wear out of their sheets?

Gal