Moderator Wizcrafts Posted March 2 Moderator Report Posted March 2 @Southerngunner Your 144 year old machine is still in perfect sewing condition! They sure built things to last in the late 1800s. Quote Posted IMHO, by Wiz My current crop of sewing machines: Cowboy CB4500, Singer 107w3, Singer 139w109, Singer 168G101, Singer 29k71, Singer 31-15, Singer 111w103, Singer 211G156, Adler 30-7 on power stand, Techsew 2700, Fortuna power skiver and a Pfaff 4 thread 2 needle serger.
Members Cumberland Highpower Posted March 2 Members Report Posted March 2 (edited) On 2/28/2025 at 12:29 PM, Beehive said: To this day, I can't use an electric sewing machine and not think it's the biggest POS that's ever existed. The feeling, power, and control you get from a treadle machine is impossible to replicate in any modern sewing machine. That's an interesting point. I never cared for a treadle machine. I always found it distracting and less controllable. Less controllable that you have to keep a hand on the flywheel for braking more than you would with an electric motor. Of course each to their own style and preferences. I've probably watched 200 Japanese videos on youtube and the older treadles are real popular, even for light leather machines in production environments. Over there it's just because of the tradition and many don't want to pay for the electrification of older machines. Edited March 2 by Cumberland Highpower Quote
Members Southerngunner Posted March 2 Author Members Report Posted March 2 3 hours ago, Wizcrafts said: @Southerngunner Your 144 year old machine is still in perfect sewing condition! They sure built things to last in the late 1800s. I can't wait for the leather drive belts to get here so I can really run it the way it is supposed to be. I still can't believe it's 144 years old and totally functional, I can't help but wonder if my Class 26 will hold up that long. Quote
Members Beehive Posted March 2 Members Report Posted March 2 (edited) 4 hours ago, Cumberland Highpower said: That's an interesting point. I never cared for a treadle machine. I always found it distracting and less controllable. Less controllable that you have to keep a hand on the flywheel for braking more than you would with an electric motor. Of course each to their own style and preferences. I've probably watched 200 Japanese videos on youtube and the older treadles are real popular, even for light leather machines in production environments. Over there it's just because of the tradition and many don't want to pay for the electrification of older machines. I was a young man exploring tailoring. I'd hem my own pants. Fit my shirts. The home, plastic, sewing machines were common. Using one was an awful feeling. Then I found a Singer at a garage sale. Then the Pfaff at an antique store. The Pfaff machine was trashed but the base was excellent. Cleaned it and painted it. Even replaced the gold paint accents. Replacement top and the Singer. Layers of thick denim was a breeze. Light cotton was smooth. It made every home machine look and feel like junk. I've owned a couple of Juki industrial machines. As for a treadle machine. You have to make friends with it. Learn the flow of using your legs while you're using your hands. There's a learning curve but once you get use to it. It's a really enjoyable machine. Romantic in a way. ( I can still hear the clicks it'd make) Edited March 2 by Beehive Quote
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