Historic sewing machines in your community

 If you live where there were old communities where, and when the hand crank, or treadle sewing machines were a big deal, when new, you may be blessed to come across treasured treadles, which played a part in clothing, and serving your community, during the hard times of the Great Depression, and the decades it took to recover, as well as supporting the community in times of World War!

Historical markings from both the Red Cross of Catawba County, in North Carolina, as well as a World War II NCWPA work room identification stencil

I just discovered one of these gems, as I was preparing one of the treadles my hubby brought me, to fix, when he discovered how much I love treadles. It has a partial property of Red Cross of  Catawba County, North Carolina sticker, but also some stenciled numbers and letters, which indicate its' service in the North Carolina Works Progress Association, a program started by FDR, as part of rebuilding communities, and the economy, during the Great Depression. Apparently, the WPA started sewing work rooms, where community members had access to sewing machines, a very expensive commodity, which not everyone could afford.
Do NOT remove historical stickers and stencils, which prove provenance of historical machines











locks I removed and cleaned and oiled, before reinstalling in this historic cabinet, prior to sale









Prior to using Howard's Restore a Finish on this table

Front view after using Howards Restore a Finish

Singer 127 Vibrating Shuttle treadle from Catawba County Red Cross work room sticker says
Red Cross of Catawba County, in North Carolina, as well as a World War II NCWPA work room identification stencil

Singer Instructions for 27/127VS 28/128VS Oiling, adjustment, Treadle, Threading

"Machine Sewing Singer" copyright 1923 to 1930 a manual for Home Economics Teachers, from Singer. These manuals often cost over $100 due to rarity, and different Singer Fashion Aids instructions are not in every year's manual.  These instructions are for Vibrating Shuttle models including 27/127VS 28/128VS 

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