Treadle Sewing Machines by Singer 15 66 99 27 28 127 129 201

Singer 15 in 7 drawer embossed treadle cabinet

The instructions in the front of most treadle sewing machine manuals, help you learn to treadle.

Treadles need oiled, and sometimes, old gummy oil cleaned out, then oiled with sewing machine oil.

Treadle sewing machines may have gone out of style, once electric sewing machines became popular, and electrical service was available throughout most of the United States, but ironically, Singer's treadle sewing machines could already sew as fast, or faster, than many of the same machines, with an electrical motor added.

Singer 127 Vibrating Shuttle Treadle Sewing machine in treadle table, with a handy tilt out drawer, and storage drawers for the manual and sewing accessories. Notice the large, spoked handwheel, which allows you to sew more stitches per revolution, one of the important details for hand crank machines, & treadle machines.

Puzzlebox full of accessories for early Singer Vibrating Shuttle sewing machines, including VS-2, 127, 128
Accessories included a ruffler, a shirring plate, a pack of needles, 5 long bobbins, a tucker tuck marker, a seam guide, a braiding foot, a multi purpose foot which the rolled hemmers and binder attachments could be screwed to, to make rolled hemming in several sizes, an underbraider, 2 sizes of screwdrivers, a stiletto, to help guide fabric near the needle, without stitching your fingers, a seam guide, and a bias binding cutting guide to attach to your scissors, to make your own bias tape.  

This photo of my Puzzle box for my Singer 127, with stitch samples in the binder attachment (green sample), and the far left rolled hemmer (purple sample). The smallest rolled hemmer foot is separate, setting outside the case. 

For those who actually sewed constantly, an electrical motor did make sense, both for speed, and to save energy, because while treadle sewing does use your feet for power, it really doesn't take much energy to treadle, and once you teach yourself to treadle properly, it becomes second nature, and you don't even think about it. What is really fun, is to watch someone who sewed on a treadle most of their lives, on a treadle sewing machine, really go to town, sewing on a treadle!

Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who have discovered the joys of free motion embroidery, and quilting, using treadle sewing machines, many sellers on Etsy, actually make a living doing this, and some even share videos of themselves actually treadling and embroidering, or quilting, the products, so you can learn how, if you like.

Before electricity was available, Singer manufactured a variety of hand crank & treadle sewing machines, including, (but not limited to) these models-

Singer 15-88  (CV oscillating class 15 bobbin system)
Singer 66  (rotary class 66 bobbin system)
Singer 99  (rotary class 66 bobbin system) 3/4 size machine
Singer 127 VS  (Vibrating Shuttle, long bobbin)
Singer 128 VS  (Vibrating Shuttle, long bobbin same as 127) 3/4 size machine
Singer 201  (rotary class 66 bobbin system)

Replacing the leather belt on treadle sewing machines, is a simple, but necessary task. A belt hole punch tool works great, if you don't have one, an awl will also work. There is a special tool designed specifically for changing treadle belts, which Singer's dealers all had, but they tend to be expensive. I use a pair of pliers to close the staple like metal clip, when I replace a belt. This was a $3 belt (including shipping) from China. It is better to get a thicker belt, but this works okay. Remember the belt will stretch, after it's been used a little, so you may need to shorten the belt a little, if it gets too loose to work well.

This Singer 127 VS sewing machine was missing it's front slide plate, when I received it, but my hubby and son drove 4 hours to pick up a bunch of antique sewing machine parts, from a gentleman in South Carolina, who makes yard art & sculptures out of frozen up sewing machines. Luckily, there were many replacement plates for the Singer 127, as well as the 66 & 99 sewing machines (the small ones in the middle of the machine bed). 

It is very common for antique & vintage sewing machines to be missing their bobbin cover plates, but luckily, the internet makes it easy to find replacements. If your machine is missing it's cover plate, and you don't want to buy a new one, you can always get a thin, but firm piece of plastic, metal plate, or even cardboard, if you're desperate, that you can cut to size, & slide in place, to keep dust & debris from getting into the bobbin or shuttle area, and to prevent your projects you are sewing, from getting tangled in the machine, where the plate is missing.

Singer 66 is a model which is often found treadled, but as electricity became readily available, machine owners often asked their Singer dealer to convert their machine to electric.  Note the hand wheel has been switched to a smaller size, instead of the large spoked hand wheel. The larger handwheel actually allows you to sew more stitches per revolution, so if you a converting an electrified Singer 66 back to a treadle, you will want to switch back to the larger spoked handwheel, to get the best these wonderful rotary machines can offer in speed.

One of the first things to do, when you buy a vintage sewing machine, should be giving it a good cleaning, and oiling, making sure that all of the parts are securely where they are supposed to be, because sometimes a bolt or screw can be loose, a coverplate can fall off during transit, and parts can be lost.

Oiling should be done with sewing machine oil, not with 3 in 1, or other household oils & lubricants. Apparently, there are a lot of differences between the various types of oils & lubricants, and one of the special features of actual sewing machine oil, is that it is supposed to be non staining, if it gets on your fabric, from your machine, while sewing. The other issue, is that the wrong oil may dry out quickly, and cause the machine to lock up. Do NOT use WD40 to oil, or lubricate your machine, it is famous for drying out the oil, and making everything stick together. (On modern machines, there are some situations where WD40 or similar treatments may be necessary, in unfreezing a seized up machine, but then it needs cleaned out, and oiled correctl.)

Sewing machine oil rubbed into the irons, helps protect them from rust, and also helps them look good.

If you have carpet, or wood floors,  you may want to use round wood wheel guards, to protect your floor, and prevent your machine from rolling.

The treadle base needs oiled and sometimes adjusted (if treadle pedal clunks), it is easy to do yourself, instructions are in the front of original manuals for these machines.

Singer made this zigzagger, which has 16 different stitch cams available for it, although only 4 cams came with the zigzagger itself. Notice there is a stitch sample showing the satin zigzag stitch, proving that this zigzagger worked great, when it left the factory. Even though hand crank and treadle sewing machines are all straight stitch machines, with Singer Fashion Aids and accessories, you can sew a variety of stitches, with the right tools. This zigzagger works by moving the fabric back & forth, not by moving the needle back & forth.

The sewing machine is not the only thing that needs cleaned & oiled, your treadle also needs cleaned & oiled, in order for it to operate at it's best. The treadle wheel, as well as the pivot points at the sides  of the pedal. 

If your treadle is loud, you need to adjust the screws, and oil the entire mechanism. Your Singer manual will include these instructions, if you have a copy of the original Singer Treadle Sewing Machine Manual.

Singer 15-88 shown with one of Singer's Fashion Aids Cases, and many of the attachments & feet that any Singer low shank sewing machine can use. There is a blind hemmer, zigzagger with cams, buttonholer, binders, all kinds of special tools to help you sew like a professional, even if you don't have electricity to sew with! There is an electric light on this 15-88, and there is an electric motor, which was added to the back of this machine, so it can be used with the electric motor, if desired, but I prefer treadling, so I've never wired