grant15clone

Joe, I guess not! That seems a little short to me to be honest though. I may look into this further and ask them why.
~G~

SteveH

PM me about this. I have a "Leather Factory" wholesale account

SteveH

Thank you for catching that. I do not know why I said silicon. I meant Teflon. I have said that incorrectly on a number of posts. Sorry.

miriam

I have a 13 year old can of T-F spray - I should see if it is any good.

purplefiend

I used to have a picture of it when Webshots was still around, but not anymore. My machine has no decals or clear coat left. All along the front of edge of the machine, the paint was rubbed off and you can see bare metal. It does however sew a perfect stitch.
Sharon

treadlep

So, that is my Richmond treadle in the picture you found, so you probably also found my previous posts that show my cabinet that is different than yours, and that have info I had found on my research. I wanted to let you know that this machine takes a non-standard sewing machine needle size: the eldredge needles are a bit longer than the normal 15x1 needle. However, I have been successful using standard 15x1 needles that are not inserted all the way to the top of the needle slot. The old eldredge needles are hard to find. I found some at a local sewing machine shop, but none since, and there were a few with the machine when I got it. I have one needle marked with a sharpie that serves as a guide to mark 15x1 needles, so I know how far to insert them.

The paperwork with my richmond indicates the same department store in New York. My machine belonged to my great grandmother, and later some great-aunts who lived in a small town in upstate New York near Cooperstown. After her last sister died, my grandmother went back to close out the family home, and the treadle was shipped to me in California when I was in my twenties. I have had it since the late 1980s, it works great, and as you can see it is in very good shape. I keep it cleaned and oiled since I did an original deep clean, and use it on occasion.

As far as age, my treadle base has a wooden footman, which others on this board say indicates the machine is pre-1900. That would make sense based on my family history timeline, and I would guess it entered the household sometime in the 1890s to early 1900s.

Enjoy your treadle---mine seems pretty indestructible, so if you've got yours up and running that's a good sign you can clean it up and use it for years. I'm constantly amazed to look at the old richmond and know that it is over 100 years old!

treadlep

I believe the Richmond treadle is actually a badged National---the medallion is specific to National rather than Davis from what I've read on this board. On my Richmond, it came with Eldredge needles, and the shuttle holder is stamped Eldredge, also a National machine. I guess we don't know for sure, just my opinion.

treadlep

Did you figure out how to thread the leaf tension on top, which is different from Glenn's machine? If not, let me know and I can post a photo for you.

Regarding your bobbin winder arm, when you disassembled and reassembled for cleaning, it sounds like you didn't get the spring seated again correctly---it has to be under tension when you reassemble in order to work. I did the same on mine when I deep cleaned it, but kept at it and finally got it working again.

redbugsullivan

My DH just brought in a two cup spray bottle half full of 15 year old Tri-Flow. "Shake it up. I've never had any problems with it. Does what it's supposed to for me. Watch out because it spreads." Imagine my surprise! I have had it here all along. Boy howdy, do my treadles have a treat in store...

miriam

give them a good drink