Wheeler & Wilson Treadle Sewing Machine

Portable Electric
Admiral
Atlas
Brewer
Domestic
Dressmaker
Electro Hygiene
Elna
Eldridge
Free-Westinghouse
Kenmore
Montgomery Ward
Mercury
Morse
Necchi
Nelco
Phoenix
Singer 15-
Singer 24-
Singer 99-
Singer 99 knee
Singer 128-13
Singer 185
Singer 221
Singer 237
Singer 301
Singer 306
Singer 319
Singer 360
Singer 401
Singer 500a
Singer 513
Singer 620
Singer 646
Singer Graduate
Universal
Universal DST
Visetti
White
White Rotary
Treadle
Household
Howe
Singer Lotus
Singer Redeye
Weed
Wheeler & Wilson
Wilcox & Gibbs
Winselmann Titan
Hand Crank
Singer 99
Silberberg
Childrens
Elna
Singer

Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine

Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Before Restoration

We generally value the original finish on our antiques and collectibles. What from what we have read, refinishing often takes away from an antique's value. This poor machine however, has seen much better days and even came compete with a gigantic mouse nest inside. If it had been used by Betsy Ross, we may not have refinished it. It is one of the few sewing machines we have refinished.

These photos were taken after the metal base was removed and before we took it to the John C. Campbell Folk School for a class in furniture refinishing.

The machine will never be a working model in our collection, because it requires a curved needle to operate. We are also missing the accessories.

We saw another machine in an antique store and it had its accessories. It was remarkable that when it was sold, it had a foot with a glass insert.

Unlike more modern treadles that use a round leather drive band, this machine used as wide leather belt. We fabricated a drive belt from a man's leather belt but we have belt slipping; we apparently need to work on our belt-making and belt-tightening skills. A main contributor to belt slippage is the machine is very stiff. If we were to lubricate it well and just sit down and treadle for a few hours, it likely would loosen up.

Fabric is sewn by moving from left to right instead of the usual front to back movement on most all other sewing machines.

Wheeler & Wilson Treadle

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1