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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Treadlin' Along  |
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ktknits
True Blue Farmgirl
582 Posts
Kathy
Northwest Indiana
USA
582 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 05:59:04 AM
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Hello....Hello....I'm back (sort of)
This has been one heck of a year for me--not much time for anything but work, work, work. I have done some quilting, some knitting and some spinning, but not nearly as much as I've wanted to.
But, I did want to check in here because I just got a treadle!! Yay!!
It's my DH's grandmother's old Singer. From the serial number, it looks like it was made in 1879. I e-mailed singer, and they said it was a New Family machine. But, it has a regular bobbin, not a shuttle, so it might be the "Improved" New Family machine that also came out that year.
It's been in the attic for over 40 years, and looks it! It isn't rusty, but it's not real pretty either. I've got to read through the old messages, etc to see how to clean it up, lightly refinish the wood and get it running.
It's funny--I'm concerned about getting it oiled, needle, thread, belt, etc to get it running while my husband is concerned with how it looks and doesn't want me to bring it into the house until it's refinished and all polished up. Isn't it typically the other way around? The woman worries how it "looks" and the man worries about "making it work"??
Oh well, I have my work cut out for me! Any quick tips on refinishing? The top looks like it's got water marks, and the "bubbles" of old varnish or "gunk" (a highly technical term!) or something? Thanks!
kt
http://ktknits.blogspot.com |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 06:03:17 AM
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Hey ya'll! I am picking up a Singer treadle tonight that I found for free on Freecycle.com. I don't know anything about it except that the woman used it for upholstery and it has been in storage for 8 years. I don't know what to expect but free is free! I will post later tonight when she arrives. I am so thankful you all are here to help with all this!
Dana
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9325 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9325 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 06:09:48 AM
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Welcome back Kathy! How cool is that you have a machine that was in the family. I am stil working on getting mine running just havwen't had enough time in one shot to sit down at it. I keep trying though.
Dana,
Congratulations! and free too. Hey you'll be hooked before you know it!
Denise
farmgirl sister #43
"Take a lesson from the teakettle, though up to its
neck in hot water...it sings!"
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 06:15:01 AM
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Hey Denise! I have wanted to have one for quilting for a long time! We'll see what she looks like tonight.
Dana
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 07:44:37 AM
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| I was given a Minnesota treadle by my stepmom last weekend. It was found in a barn and given to her. My dad refinished it and he's been gone 32 years. I have to do some investigation, with help from Bonne's vast knowledge. Large table, treadle folds up under a bottom shelf, wheel is sideways until you release a lever. Wouldn't know it's a machine cabinet. Has the original booklet, in very sad shape. I'll put it in page protectors and can maybe read it without doing more damage. Info stepmom had puts it in the 1880's, will check on that too. |
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smoothiejuice
True Blue Farmgirl
6309 Posts
Jessica
Bloomington
Indiana
USA
6309 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 07:59:54 AM
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ronna i have several manuals in that shape...i also very carefully photocopied them and had them bound at kinkos for a few bucks, then put the originals away marked specifically as to what machine they belong to
#56
http://hectichousehold.blogspot.com/ |
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MissDana
True Blue Farmgirl
348 Posts
Dana
Carrollton
Georgia
USA
348 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 5:43:12 PM
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I picked up my treadle tonight! It is a Singer 31-15 Tailor's machine. In cabinet and motorized. I have a beautiful treadle cabinet in working order without a machine and I will put this in the nicer cabinet. I am overwhelmed at the process of taking the motor off! I also have not been able to find an owner's manual for this specific machine. What should I do first? It is in really good working order, just some slight rusting of the throat plate. I am soooo excited! I have named her Miss Betty. Don't laugh! : ) My loom is named Miss Lucy!
Any guidance is appreciated!
Dana
Proud Farmgirl Sister # 267
www.schultztroupe.wordpress.com |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
Posted - Aug 26 2008 : 8:07:24 PM
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Dana, go back to the start of this thread and you'll find many links to sites you can use. Pg 10 has a link to manuals online, plus the Singer site for dating it. We've discussed it pretty thoroughly, you just have to sift through it all. lol
 http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ BLOG
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smoothiejuice
True Blue Farmgirl
6309 Posts
Jessica
Bloomington
Indiana
USA
6309 Posts |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9325 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9325 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 10:22:11 AM
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Bonne,
It just figures that mine would be the vibrating shuttle. That's the way things go for me, but, I have one that came with the machine and it is in very nice condition. Do I really need more than one?
Denise
farmgirl sister #43
"Take a lesson from the teakettle, though up to its
neck in hot water...it sings!"
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 1:12:06 PM
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No, not unless it discombobulates somehow. Bobbins are all you need several of.
I'm always on the lookout for spares (cheap) though, just in case. It takes a little practice to thread your shuttle and wind your bobbin, but the manual gives good instructions. Also on the shuttle is a tension screw that you may need to adjust (tighten or loosen) You'll know when you first go to stitch which tensions (upper or lower) you need to adjust. That's just like with regular sewing machines~same set of "rules"about adjusting your upper or lower tensions by the way the thread looks on your stitching. Have fun with it~it's such a great feeling of accomplishment when you make your first row of even stitching!
http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ BLOG
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Contrary Wife
True Blue Farmgirl
2164 Posts
Teresa Sue
Tekoa
WA
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - Aug 27 2008 : 5:16:58 PM
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Wow! I am in awe of this forum. First, I couldn't believe how much I had in common with so many farmgirls, now, I find there's a whole thread just on treadle machines. My husband gave me one for our third anniverary(29 years ago). It's not a really fancy one, but it's a nice one. His grandmother lent me hers years ago when my daughter was small and I made her little dresses on it. Great memories, guess I might have to dust my old gal off and use her.
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
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ktknits
True Blue Farmgirl
582 Posts
Kathy
Northwest Indiana
USA
582 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2008 : 2:36:46 PM
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OK, I downloaded the info from treadleon, went to Menards at lunch today to get supplies (steel wool, Old English scratch cover, WD 40, etc), and I'm all ready to work on the treadle this weekend. Wish me luck!!
Kathy T
http://ktknits.blogspot.com |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
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prairielandherbs
True Blue Farmgirl
690 Posts
Maggie
Iowa
USA
690 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2008 : 07:06:28 AM
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| Good Luck Kathy! post pics! |
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smoothiejuice
True Blue Farmgirl
6309 Posts
Jessica
Bloomington
Indiana
USA
6309 Posts |
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prairielandherbs
True Blue Farmgirl
690 Posts
Maggie
Iowa
USA
690 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2008 : 11:57:48 AM
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| anybody have any experience with the class 15 singers??? |
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prairielandherbs
True Blue Farmgirl
690 Posts
Maggie
Iowa
USA
690 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2008 : 1:14:49 PM
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| *frantically searching through fiber stash for alpaca to spin into yarn for Bonne* |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
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LunaTheFarmLady
True Blue Farmgirl
448 Posts
Luna
Rineyville
KY
USA
448 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 10:07:15 AM
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Hi ladies, I just found this thread and am enthralled! Missed it all this time, somehow. I have a Davis treadle that I picked up about 6 months ago with allthe parts and manual. It's set up in my LR and I love looking at it as I run by. I had planned to use it when I found it even though everyone thinks I'm totally nuts...o well, I guess that's not the only reason ... anyway...I haven't had the chance yet but now that I've found this I wlll have to make time somehow. I haven't read back over the 23 pages (!!!) but will... At first I thought they were all from this year! Happy Anniversary Bonne!
Luna The Farm Lady
http://blueballmountainspindleneedleworks.blogspot.com/
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 12:32:35 PM
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Welcome to our nutty corner Luna!! (love your blog BTW)
The Davis is probably similar to the Minnesota machines, as I believe Davis made the Minnesota brand for Sears Roebuck. Have fun with it and if you run into any snags, give us a "holler" here.
 http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ BLOG
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9325 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9325 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 12:53:07 PM
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Bonne,
You amaze me, you have a wealth of information on these treadles and you sure know your stuff.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of these machines with us.
Denise
farmgirl sister #43
"Take a lesson from the teakettle, though up to its
neck in hot water...it sings!"
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 1:30:48 PM
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I just learned it from Jessica and from reading online about my own sewing machine purchases from last year.
Thank all the people online that share their knowledge~I was just good at finding it. LOL
http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ BLOG
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9325 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9325 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 4:05:20 PM
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well, you've shared it with us newbies and you've done a lot of the leg work looking for the information and Jess too! thanks to you both
Denise
farmgirl sister #43
"Take a lesson from the teakettle, though up to its
neck in hot water...it sings!"
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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LunaTheFarmLady
True Blue Farmgirl
448 Posts
Luna
Rineyville
KY
USA
448 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 4:56:17 PM
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Thanks Bonne for the info and encouragement. I have to test it out and report back. Maybe I'll put it on my blog (thanks!) which needs, as always some updates..... i love yours too...great pics and links and info....
Luna The Farm Lady
http://blueballmountainspindleneedleworks.blogspot.com/
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Treadlin' Along |
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Treadlin' Along
