AI6YR BenHey, the patent on this sewing machine cabinet has run out! Feel free to copy the design and sell if you like... #sewing #antique
The details on this cabinet are fabulous. I fixed the bobbin winder with a new bobbin tire, still waiting for the replacement leather belt for the treadle. Removed 116 years of four different threads on the bobbin (moldy, stinky, smoky) and will rewind some. Was able to dislodge the needle (20x1, no longer made), will see if a new needle will hold. I guess most people just collect these as antiques instead of use them and keep them in working order.... #sewingmachinerepair #sewing #antique
After oiling it twice, the machine is working again, mechanically. Needs a belt and will try to get a new needle in there (antique needles never work... cut the thread due to the rust in the eye). #sewing https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ngWMkAczh5g
1906 New Home sewing machine moving again
U.S. Patent No. 431,207 (Patented July 1, 1890) by G.L. Gray "Drop Cabinet for Sewing Machines" ?
This must be it... Just for the heck of it, I am printing the patent out and will leave it with the future new owner of this cabinet. (I am not going to keep it, although the treadle is FABULOUS. I may consider another one with a more modern machine, post 1940's, in the future).
Looks like the machines circa 1907 all are similar design... I am thinking people were copying each other. There are two other treadle machines of similar era people have been trying to sell here nearby in town. One's a couple of blocks away from me here, down the street, LOL. (asking much more than my $35 deal)
Nobody ناچیز नास्ति (he/him)@ai6yr
I learned to sew on my mother's Singer, which we still have.
I learned to sew on my mother's Singer, which we still have.
W6KME@ai6yr Plenty of companies copied Singer's designs, but all is fair etc. Singer was famously unshy about stealing other people's patented designs, including the one that got him into the sewing machine business. Cost him quite a bit of money eventually.
Stumpy The Mutt
John Socks@ai6yr My mom has one like that Singer. I think there were really a lot of them made, and it's really only older people who have a strong connection to them. And so ..
Chris Samuel@ai6yr what an absolutely beautiful cabinet! Love the work on that.
Megan Lynch (she/her)@ai6yr Treadle power is great. We ought to use more of it, IMO.
@meganL Oh, I agree! I don't know why you'd go electric if you can do treadle power, but I guess only for a hobbyist or someone at home, clearly motors are easier for high throughput.
@ai6yr I'm sure there are times your foot would get tired, but the great thing about the transition era machines is that you can set them up for treadling or for using electrically.
And it isn't just about sewing machines. There's farm equipment, shears, and other machines that can be run by treadle power. It doesn't make sense to mimic this in gyms, but not actually use the power of treadles in our daily lives.
Bruce MacDonald@ai6yr This is a great thread. I remember my grandma having one of these; the front edge of the treadle could come down on your toes if you weren't careful.
In the film "Fiddler on the Roof," a sewing machine played a part in Motel the tailor's "Miracle of Miracles."
@rationaldoge @ai6yr Thanks for today's earworm!😄
@StumpyTheMutt @rationaldoge Interesting, similar design but different tensioning mechanism.
Clint (he/him)@rationaldoge @ai6yr Great thread…I see what you did there! 🧵
Lauren Weinstein@ai6yr Sewing machines are one of my favorites examples of thinking outside the box. That is, it
mechanizes a human activity in an utterly different manner than a human would conduct that activity.
mechanizes a human activity in an utterly different manner than a human would conduct that activity.
Kennric@lauren @ai6yr A favorite old BBC show called The Secret Life of Machines did an episode explaining how sewing machines sew, it's one of the best visual demonstrations I've seen, using a human sized sewing machine. Very charming show, btw, I recommend them all. https://youtu.be/8lwI4TSKM3Y?feature=shared
The Secret Life of the Sewing Machine - Remastered
Weaver
Oskar im Keller
MsMerope
Inoru
Joe Vilas
Femme Malheureuse@ai6yr That cabinet is to die for, worth cleaning up even if it didn't come with the machine. Those torch details are *chef's kiss* -- I would love to have seen them made because unlike the detail on the drawer front, the torches are not carved as a separate piece and applied.
Adrianna Pińska@ai6yr One more needle thing: here's someone's forum post about making a magnetic spacer to make it easier to position a 15x1 correctly on a 20x1 needlebar every time (assuming all goes well with clamping): https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/post/15x1-rather-than-20x1-needles-8224067
15x1 rather than 20x1 needles
OK, so you have a machine such as my Damascus that uses the once common 20x1 needles, 📷 and you're as tired as I am of hunting for the now hard(er) to get needles. Or finding the correct version of same if your machine is picky about that. Forum member Jon told me there are at least 5 versions of the 20x1. So I decided to not only short seat the 15x1 needle, but make an spacer that would allow me to R&R the shorter needle without having to measure the setting each time. 📷 L = 15x1 R = 20x1 📷 Using a strip magnet you can buy at hobby stores, cut a small piece the width of the needle grove, and the length that will compensate for the difference in length between the two needles. 📷 Fit the spacer into the needle grove up against the needle stop. It's best to clean the needle bar and grove first. I didn't this time, but it will get cleaned later. 📷 Now the 15x1 needle will set to the same length every time. 📷 Sews perfect! Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! To set this machine up I used Schmetz Universal needles because they are readily available. Joe
cobalt@ai6yr I took a class on making puppets and the teacher demonstrated how an antique treadle machine was the only kind strong enough to stitch through leather and heavy materials. It also was great for tacking stitches and for intricate patchwork.
I have my grandma’s but no cabinet, so I got an old cabinet I used for years as a bedside table. Now both are languishing in our storage in garage. I still think, sometimes, I may restore them.
A cool crab wearing shades@ai6yr There is a decent market for refurbed machines of this vintage actually. Singers especially but if it works well there's someone who would LOVE to sew on it.
@neckspike Yeah, I found someone here who would like this machine when I am done restoring it. I'm just going to sell it to them for my acquisition cost and cost of parts!
@ai6yr These old machines are insanely durable and a lot of the parts like motors and treadles are interchangeable or easily adaptable, so they last basically forever.
@ai6yr One of my great regrets is I wasn't able to take my grammie's treadle powered Singer when she had to move into assisted living.
@neckspike Yes, clearly they last more than several lifetimes. The 1950's Singer I have (which I thought was old) is wonderful. I really am tempted to do a similar Singer but treadle driven, because the idea of direct human work instead of electricity is extremely appealing to me.
@ai6yr it's quite nice when you get the rhythm correct! I think about Grammie's machine whenever these pop up, I don't remember it clearly enough to ID the model anymore but it was in beautiful working shape and I hope it ended up with someone who loves it very much.
Tirrimas 
🚫👑@ai6yr I cry at our current Apple-fied design aesthetic. This machine is really lovely
Kinene
CrazyDogLadysezPEACE@ai6yr Gorgeous!
Gulleko
Human 3500@ai6yr that's spectacular