MAKE A NEW FOOT-POWERED SEWING MACHINE

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Even though high technology seems to be sticking its nose into more and more facets of daily life, some old-fashioned ways of doing things never go out of style.

My mother purchased her first electric sewing machine in 1949 . . . and consequently sold her outdated (but trusty) old treadle stitcher for five dollars. I suppose she was convinced, at the time, that the "modern" way was better. However, since then the price of electricity has come to be as big a budget consideration as a family vacation. And after 30 years of inflation had taken its toll on my lifestyle, I bought—in 1979—a secondhand cast-iron frame from a Singer treadle-powered machine for $20. Not very long after that, my mother-in-law presented me with an old electric sewing machine "head" she had put away some years before . . . and by putting both components together, I came up with a very fine tool I never have to plug in!

The only real difference between an electric and a treadle sewing machine, you know, is the means by which the mechanism is turned. The first type employs a motor . . . whereas the second requires nothing but good old muscle power to turn the flywheel. In either case, a belt-and-pulley assembly usually transfers the power to the machine's main shaft.

HOW A TREADLE WORKS

A treadle is actually a big pedal that one tips back and forth by applying pressure with both feet. This action causes a push rod to move up and down . . . which cranks a flywheel . . . which turns a leather belt . . . which supplies power to the main shaft. (The flywheel is able to revolve in either direction, so it's impor tant to get it turning correctly every time you begin to sew.)

If you decide to stitch with foot power but have difficulty locating a factory-made frame, such as the one I 'found, the accompanying diagram should help you to build your own . . . from plywood, planks, and rebar or what have you. Just bear in mind that [1] the axle must be firmly fixed, [2] the flywheel has to be free to turn (but It shouldn't wobble), and [3] the treadle must be pivoted on both ends.

THE SEWING MACHINE HEAD

The term "head" refers to the actual sewing mechanism. All the other com ponents function either to hold the head in place or to turn its main shaft. (Older sewing machine models have the pulley on the outside of the mechanism, but some newer models have pulleys on the inside and are therefore more difficult to adapt to foot power.)