White Treadle Machine 101

Quick view of my 1880s treadle machine, how to set it up, how it works, odd spots I tend to oil that aren't in any instructions, AND the finicky things I've learned about it. Sorry if this one is a bit weird. Something felt off about it all, but I don't think it's a terrible video?

[@Sherry8172]

So happy to find you! I have the exact machine. So helpful . Thank you for posting.

[@valjohnson7350]

Wonderful video, thank you! I hope you will do more. I just acquired the same model and was stumped without a manual.

[@robinblack3865]

I learned alot, thank you!

[@sooohum]

WHAT a beauty! Thanks! I'm getting a machine like this. :)

[@Tuushoes]

Can you post a pic of the inside of needle and presser bar please

[@stephenrobb8759]

I have this model.... there is a lever on the handwheel to disengage the stitching gears for bobbin winding. The round tip of the lever shows in the video, near the top of the handwheel , between the spokes at time stamp 4:00 -ish

[@historiansstitch7568]

Someone else mentioned that! I now know where it is and use it all the time!

[@grace5241]

I recently just got the white 1908 treadle machine. Do you have a manual ? Can I get a copy. Will pay you for this?

[@mrzif0013]

how do you reverse stich on large fabric?

[@historiansstitch7568]

There is no reverse on a machine like this. If it goes backwards at any point it can damage the machine. What I personally do is either tie it off at the end in a knot, OR keep a large eued needle near by to stitch the thread tail back through what I sewed.

[@tommaryellenbarnatt6141]

I believe the flywheel should always go "AWAY" from you on a White sewing machine. They are opposite everything that is done on a Singer treadle machine.

[@historiansstitch7568]

The problem I have found if it ever goes away from me is she tends to lock up and the feed dogs try to push the fabric towards me instead of pulling away. Maybe with older ones that mine own they are opposite though. 🤷‍♀️

[@purpy102]

The vibrating shuttle type(long bobbin), the hand wheel goes toward you. The White Rotary, (round bobbin) the hand wheel goes away from you.

[@kellyxoxo6181]

Yes.. everything I read said white turn hand wheel away from me. Kept locking up. By accident, I found by pulling hand wheel towards me, my fabric advanced away as it should, and this old lady took off. I still don't know the age of my machine, but it looks exactly like the one in the video.

[@valjohnson7350]

Lovely, also where would you look for extra needles and bobbins? Any Ideas?

[@historiansstitch7568]

Ill make a video tomorrow for this!

[@sooohum]

Question: How do you achieve the oh-so-delicate perfect tension that you reference at 7 min? Is there more to it than what you mentioned about pulling through freely but not slipping down if you hold it up?

[@historiansstitch7568]

There is a little screw on the bobbin shuttle that controls the tension. I honestly just played with it till it was happy. Bernadette Banner did a video on her Singer treadle and she is who I learned it from. She probably describes it better.

[@hannamose680]

There is a switch on the wheel that will disengage the needle head when making bobbins.. I'm going to have to try and oil mine. The bottom stitch keeps clumping up.

[@historiansstitch7568]

I had wondered what that switch was! Thank you!!

[@ashleyschifano4619]

Thanks for posting this! I’ve had a machine just like this for years… never touched… and I’m finally messing around with it. Where did you get your drive belt? I need to order one… I’ve got the original but mine is broken

[@historiansstitch7568]

There are a few fabric/quilting shops in ny area that sell them. But online they are pretty easy to find. Keep and awl and needle nose plyers near by when you go to size the belt. Good luck with yours!

[@ashleyschifano4619]

I saw another video on KZbin with a similar machine who said she got hers off Amazon… and she proceeded to give the size so I ordered one that’ll be here tomorrow 😅. I did manage to wind a bobbin manually (Aka spinning with with my hand), threading the machine and stitched a bit on some scraps, so I’m very looking forward to getting the treadle hooked up.

[@chrishoesing5455]

Is this a left hand sewing machine or is the video reversed?

[@historiansstitch7568]

The video is reversed. The newer video for this machine should be more the sewers view-point instead.

[@tomobedlam297]

Now you are wondering why the commentary is not coming out backwards since the image is reversed. 🤔😅