Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
Special Interests - Groups & Societies => Cas City Historical Society => The Old Fashioned Way => Topic started by: Delmonico on August 03, 2005, 03:18:46 PM
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I wanted to get this forum goingyesterday, but things don't always work as planned.
Many folks who came into Cas-Shooting/ren-acting the "Old West" had done Mountian Man era in the past. Well a lot of their ideas they learned changed in the 25-40 years time differance.
When sewing your own clothing it does not have to be hand sewn. In fact to be proper as to hand sewing it should either portray someone such as a homesteader who may or may not have had a sewing machine, it was often a prize possession as seen in Solomon Butcher Photos. Also a item sewn by hand was a mark of affection to a man when made by a lady.
Also very fine tailored clothing was often hand sewn, it was considered a mark of fine clothing to have very fine hand sewing.
Most store bought clothing was machine sewn in factories, remember Oliver Winchester owned a Men's shirt factory before getting in the gun bussiness.
Home sewing machines were the foot pumped treadle machines, factory ones were often belt driven.
I am lucky enough to own a operating treadle machine which I use from time to time. I have did some comparrison and a modern electric will do the same kind of straght stitch if using one of these is handier. I find it is because it is easier to get the tension right and it don't cause cramps. One must not use the fancy stitches one of these machines will do. They will make it look wrong. If you want fancy stitching or embroidery, learn to do it by hand.
So with that hand sewing or a straght stictch sewn with either a treadle machine or a modern one is correct.
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Thanks, Del. I'd forgotten about the tredle machines. My MIL had one, wish we had that one back. Believe it was a Singer, too.......Buck 8) ::) :o ;)
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The rally nice thing is that a treadle machine is still hard to beat for sewing light leather (with the proper needle) or heavy material such as several layers of canvas when making things like haversacks.
The worst thing you can do is slip a belt or break a needle.
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My better-half is borrowing her mother's machine. It looks like a treadle machine but has a little electric motor mounted on it with a round belt around the pulleys. I would call it a transition machine. We also have a treadle around here someplace, not sure where it is right now.
Slim
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My Aunt and Grandmother, both had treadle Singers. I only wish I knew where they are now!!!!!
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My better-half is borrowing her mother's machine. It looks like a treadle machine but has a little electric motor mounted on it with a round belt around the pulleys. I would call it a transition machine. We also have a treadle around here someplace, not sure where it is right now.
Slim
I think they came out with kits to convert the old treadle machines to electric. I remember my dad did that with my mom's treadle Singer back in the fiftys or so. I just got through cleaning out an aunt's house, and came across an early Singer electric portable. It had the heavy black cast metal upper with fancy gold decorative stuff all over it, and sits in a case with a lift-off cover. Pretty neat, and appears not to have been used much, if at all.
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My better-half is borrowing her mother's machine. It looks like a treadle machine but has a little electric motor mounted on it with a round belt around the pulleys. I would call it a transition machine. We also have a treadle around here someplace, not sure where it is right now.
Slim
I think they came out with kits to convert the old treadle machines to electric. I remember my dad did that with my mom's treadle Singer back in the fiftys or so. I just got through cleaning out an aunt's house, and came across an early Singer electric portable. It had the heavy black cast metal upper with fancy gold decorative stuff all over it, and sits in a case with a lift-off cover. Pretty neat, and appears not to have been used much, if at all.
My mother-law's is just like that. ;D
Slim
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Several years ago Cactus Concha of Las Vegas had her tent set up at the OWSA shoot in Raton, N.M.. making & repairing clothes. She had a treadle sewing machine that looked brand new. I asked her if it had been restored & she said "No. It's a reproduction." I have no idea where she bought it and I just did a web search for reproduction sewing machines with no luck. However I did find lots of antique & restored treadle machines & parts for sale.
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With the many original machines out there I don't see any reason to reproduce them. Any sewing machine repairman can work on them and for most common ones such as New Home or Singer a lot of the needed parts are still made. These are one of the most durable devices ever made by man and are still in common use in other countrys. The common palm leaf hats are made on them even today.
Most that have been lost to us are the trade-ins that the comanies destoryed to make room for their modern improved models.
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My Mom still has her treadle machine. She says it's either a Singer or a White machine. Unfortunately, it hasn't been used in about 20 years, but a little clean-up and some oil in the right places would probably do wonders. She has been planning to give it to the Johnson Co. Museum (Indiana) but I think I talked her into passing it on to me. She didn't know I had any interest in it. My wunnerful wife also said that she'd sew me a crazy quilt if I didn't want it too quickly.
Both Mom and my ex-wife sewed a finger on that machine at one time. Yikes! :o