Treadle Sewing Machines – Antique Furniture or Still Practical?

Before the world was ruled by electronics, most machines were man or animal powered. The sewing machine was no exception to this rule.

It took about fifty years after the machine’s invention before any were powered by electricity.

The precursor to electric sewing machines were treadle sewing machines, and if you don’t know much about them, let me tell you they are really fascinating equipment.

Believe it or not, there are actually people in today’s highly technologically advanced world that still prefer treadle sewing machines to electric ones– and I’m not just talking about the Amish.

Advocates of treadle sewing machines cite several very good reasons for preferring these antiques over their shiny new electric counterparts found in sewing machine retail stores.

Of course one reason for using a treadle sewing machine is because of the simple fact that if they’ve lasted and still remain in working condition after more than fifty years, you can pretty much assume that they’ll last even longer.

With electric machines, there are so many things that can go wrong so easily and so quickly. Something in the machine could overheat, there could be wiring problems, etc. These are issues that don’t exist with non-electric machines.

Another reason for using treadle sewing machines is that they don’t require electricity.

This seems a little redundant, but to many people, anything to help save money on their utility bill is a good thing. And if you sew often, your sewing machine could be using a significant amount of energy.

Although there are many people who collect antique treadle sewing machines, not every collector has the intention of using them.

Even people that don’t sew may purchase one. Why? A hundred years ago, sewing machine manufacturers seemed to put a lot more thought into the outer appearance of these machines and many of them are still quite beautiful.

Several treadle machines still exist simply because someone thought that they were a lovely piece of décor.

One can only wonder how many electric sewing machines made in our lifetime will last for fifty years or more, as the treadle machines have done.