GillyBee wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2026 10:51 am
I have a 1939 201K treadle machine. They were built like tanks and are still popular today so parts are available although soaking in sewing machine oil (never WD40) solves most things.
The electric one has a separate motor which may need a safety check or replacement wiring to be safe.
Fun fact. In 1939 my machine would have cost the average labourer almost 6 months wages.I got it for £50 which was worth about 3 hours labour at the time. Which shows just how important they are if you cant simply go down the shops to buy new clothes.
We are just this minute looking at treadles for it.
I have 3 motors for it (hello ebay) - all quite old. I'm not concerned about rewiring any of it but can't help feeling that having a treadle would be a more "authentic" solution. And it gives me another restoration project...
I've still got my mother's old singer. It was originally a hand powered one although my father fitted a small motor at some point. I could change it back if I really wanted to. I do think it's a bit of a shame that these things are almost worthless , I've seen them not sell at a fiver and I dread to think just how many must have been scrapped because of that.
Errm..... My name is H. and I have a sewing machine issue
I currently have nine machines of which four are in full working order and two need work...... I think only one of them is younger then me, and thats not by much.
I love the hand grinders, but I do have the bits to convert one to Treadle
jennyjj01 wrote:"I'm not in the least bit worried because I'm prepared: Are you?"
Londonpreppy wrote: At its core all prepping is, is making sure you're not down to your last sheet of loo roll when you really need a poo.
I have a similar problem. I also have 9 sewing machines of which 2 need work and 2 only work with a log of tlc. And only one is younger than me and that is the only electrically powered one and is the o e I niw use most. But I cant bear to get rid of them either....
Reading about other people's sewing machines, I realise I need more! I only have 2, an old Singer hand cranked one and an (apparently "retro", according to the Great British Sewing Bee) electric one from the 1980s. Guess which one gets the most use, and I make most of my own clothes. I really covet a treadle machine and wish I'd found space for my grandmother's one back in the late 80s. Never mind, it went to a good cause and they cost peanuts at auctions even now.
Was very straightforward as we still have the original manual. What I like was that it was designed from the start to be serviced. Accessible oiling point or oil holes. Everything can be got at, easily.
Next up, however, is a re wire. That's going to be more challenging. Lots of perished rubber and very odd (by modern standards) connectors.
