Treadles and cabinets
Singer Treadle Sewing Machines & Antique Cabinets
A treadle Singer is two things: the sewing machine head, and the iron stand and wooden cabinet it sits in. Date and identify the head first. That’s where the serial number is.
Anatomy
The parts of a treadle machine
Your feet rock the treadle; the pitman rod turns the band wheel; the belt carries that motion up to the handwheel of the head.
- Machine head
Where the serial number is. Date and identify this part.
- Handwheel
Has a groove for the treadle belt; often spoked on treadle and hand-crank machines.
- Band wheel (flywheel)
The large wheel in the iron base that drives the belt.
- Pitman rod
Links the treadle to the band wheel’s crank.
- Treadle
The foot plate you rock to power the machine.
- Cabinet
Wooden top and drawers, often valued as furniture in its own right.
Models
Singer models found in treadle cabinets
We list treadle versions documented by ISMACS and singersewinginfo, plus one reported by collectors.
| Model | Treadle version | Bobbin |
|---|---|---|
| 27 / 127 | Yes (also hand crank and motor) | Long shuttle |
| 28 / 128 | Found on treadles; mostly hand crank | Long shuttle |
| 15-88 | Yes | Class 15 |
| 66-1, 66-14 | Yes | Class 66 drop-in |
| 99 | Reported by collectors | Class 66 drop-in |
| 201-1 / 201K1 | Yes | Class 66 drop-in |
Tip: a large, often spoked handwheel with a belt groove, and no motor, is the quickest sign of a treadle or hand-crank head.
Three ways to drive a Singer
Treadle, hand crank or electric?
Many heads were sold in all three forms, and plenty were converted later. Here is how to tell what you have.
| Treadle | Hand crank | Electric | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Your feet, through a belt from the iron stand | Your hand, turning a crank on the handwheel | A motor, by belt or by gears |
| How to spot it | Iron base with a band wheel and foot plate; belt groove in the handwheel | Crank fixed to the handwheel; often in a wooden carrying case | Motor on the back or a potted motor; foot or knee controller |
| Both hands free? | Yes | No, one hand turns the crank | Yes |
| Check first | Belt, pitman and band wheel move without knocking | Crank gears mesh cleanly | Wiring is sound before plugging in |
Before you buy
Treadle inspection checklist
Tick items off as you check a machine in person. General guidance for any treadle.
Inspection
Care
Keeping a treadle sewing
The same rules apply to the head as to any old Singer. The stand adds one: get the belt tension right.
Use only sewing machine oil
Proper sewing machine oil is a thin oil with no additives that leave varnish. Avoid 3-in-1, household, automotive and penetrating oils. WD-40 is a water-displacing product and does not lubricate for long.
Clear lint before oiling
Take off the needle plate and brush lint out of the feed dogs and bobbin area, sweeping it towards the front so it does not go into the gears. After oiling, stitch on a scrap of fabric to take up any excess oil.
Check whether the motor takes grease or oil
Some Singer motors have grease tubes with sprung felt wicks, and others have oil wicks. Never put oil in a grease-type motor, because it can seep in and contaminate the windings. Starving an oil-type motor causes overheating.
Be gentle with the finish and decals
The black finish is shellac over enamel with gold decals. Alcohol, ammonia, citrus or water-based cleaners and solvents can whiten the shellac or 'silver' the decals, and that damage cannot be undone. A soft cloth with sewing machine oil is the safest cleaner.
Set belts to the right tension
A belt should be just tight enough not to slip. Overtightening drags on the bearings, makes a treadle hard to work and wears the shafts. A new leather belt will stretch a little as it beds in.
Inspect old wiring before plugging in
Rubber insulation on old motors, lights and controllers often hardens and crumbles with age. Wiring in this state should be replaced before the machine is used, because it is a shock and fire risk.
Which Singer models were sold on treadles?
Treadle versions are documented for the 15-88, the 66-1 and 66-14, the 201-1 (201K1) and the vibrating-shuttle 27/127. The 99 and 28/128 are also found on treadles, though the 128 was mainly sold as a hand crank.
How do I date a treadle Singer?
Date the machine head by its serial number, not the stand. The iron treadle base and the cabinet may be older or newer than the head.
Can a treadle machine be converted to electric?
Many were. Some heads carry a clip-on motor added later. The belt groove on the handwheel usually remains.
How tight should a treadle belt be?
Just tight enough not to slip. An overtight belt drags on the bearings, makes the treadle hard to work and wears the shafts. A new leather belt stretches a little as it beds in.
Which way should the treadle turn?
The handwheel should turn towards you, as on any Singer. If the machine starts backwards, stop and restart with a nudge of the handwheel in the right direction.
Sources: ISMACS class 66, singersewinginfo, ISMACS 200-class list, and restorers’ care guides listed on our sources page.
Date the head of your treadle
The serial number is on the machine bed, not the cabinet.