some pics of my old sewing machine after spending many hours refinishing the woodwork. It was so bad, it had huge patches where there was no finish at all and much lifting and bubbling of veneer. It’s still really beat up. I haven’t waxed it yet which should help filling holes. Later today I’ll be having a go at it using a tough wire brush on that base cos the softer brush did nuttin’.
Thanks, it’s really been through the wars with all those knocks and scratches, it’s a machine after all!! 🐱 I learnt the bubbling veneer comes from the wood frame shrinking ever so slightly over the century
And terrifies me working near or on the treadle , it could easily break my fingers or wrist if it moves while I’m cleaning or painting
Same here. Granny’s old machine was a tabletop Singer of an earlier vintage with a wind up handle so you had to manoevre thread and material etc with only one hand. Mum’s treadle one like this was soo much easier cos you could have 2 hands available. And Mum had zillions of different feet for it. Only downside was no zigzag stitches, but it’s straight stitching was excellent. My sister has it now, and it’s still in use.
The treadle I learnt on had zigzag, I remember using it to finish seam edges and to make buttonholes. I still remember the method for making buttonholes. Mark the ends of the hole with pins. Set the zigzag to maximum width, near zero length. Do about 10 stitches. Adjust zigzag to about 3 mm width, sew down one side of buttonhole, do the other end of the buttonhole, turn the fabric then do the second side. Finish the thread with a reverse knot , then cut. Very very carefully cut the buttonhole slit between the two sides of sewing.
I don’t know any family history on the treadle. The Elna I have is early 80s and was my Grans. Don’t care about the lack of fancy stitches. It’s innards are mostly metal so it’s a tank! Wouldn’t mind an auto buttonhole thing, I suck st those
some pics of my old sewing machine after spending many hours refinishing the woodwork. It was so bad, it had huge patches where there was no finish at all and much lifting and bubbling of veneer. It’s still really beat up. I haven’t waxed it yet which should help filling holes. Later today I’ll be having a go at it using a tough wire brush on that base cos the softer brush did nuttin’.
spoiler
and some patina
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Shit fire that is a beautiful piece. !
Thanks, it’s really been through the wars with all those knocks and scratches, it’s a machine after all!! 🐱 I learnt the bubbling veneer comes from the wood frame shrinking ever so slightly over the century
And terrifies me working near or on the treadle , it could easily break my fingers or wrist if it moves while I’m cleaning or painting
I recognise this machine 😻
it’s a 1906 H series
Don’t know the series number, but I first leant to sew on one of its close relatives. Identical woodwork.
Same here. Granny’s old machine was a tabletop Singer of an earlier vintage with a wind up handle so you had to manoevre thread and material etc with only one hand. Mum’s treadle one like this was soo much easier cos you could have 2 hands available. And Mum had zillions of different feet for it. Only downside was no zigzag stitches, but it’s straight stitching was excellent. My sister has it now, and it’s still in use.
The treadle I learnt on had zigzag, I remember using it to finish seam edges and to make buttonholes. I still remember the method for making buttonholes. Mark the ends of the hole with pins. Set the zigzag to maximum width, near zero length. Do about 10 stitches. Adjust zigzag to about 3 mm width, sew down one side of buttonhole, do the other end of the buttonhole, turn the fabric then do the second side. Finish the thread with a reverse knot , then cut. Very very carefully cut the buttonhole slit between the two sides of sewing.
I know this method, but am just shit at it. Never seem to line the ends up right. I do them by hand if they must exist.
That’s what the unpicker is for.
I don’t know any family history on the treadle. The Elna I have is early 80s and was my Grans. Don’t care about the lack of fancy stitches. It’s innards are mostly metal so it’s a tank! Wouldn’t mind an auto buttonhole thing, I suck st those
yup, a solid inner frame is the best. These old machines are very strong, the timing rarely goes out and they can sew through tough fabrics.
Reminds me of an “optical bench”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_table
Same. Feet, eyes and hand coordination needed.
yeah, I love this design too . 🐱
where it didn’t have big patches of no finish it was black with 120 years of old wax, oil and dirt . I took most of that dirt off.
Nice, I once had the base of one but only that part. (Put a wooden top on it as a sewing table with a modern machine.)