Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

Miss Florence Jane Has Arrived

Miss Florence Jane, named after my great-grandmother, was brought into my sewing room today.  The first two pictures are from a few years ago, sitting in my brother’s house.  It’s taken me nearly three years to make room for her in my sewing area.

singer5

singer1
Last night we took her out of the cabinet so we could easily transport the machine and cabinet in my truck.  Turns out with the back seat folded down we could leave the cabinet up right.

Once we got her into the house today the first thing I did was remove the motor.  The wiring is badly cracked and I’m looking forward to treadling on her.

treadle-motor

treadle-footpedal

I think that may have been the easy part.

Then I pulled out the manual – it’s from May 1916 – to figure out how to thread the machine.

treadle-book

It’s probably not the first thing I should have done, but I managed to pull the needle out and it ‘felt funny’, so I wanted to see how it was supposed to go into the machine.  Flat side of the needle to the right.  I don’t remember that from when I last sewed on this machine.  But then again it has been 32 years.

Anyway, before it goes back in the cabinet I need to clean it up a bit.

treadle-under

It’s a bit gunky underneath, and I’m sure she could use a bit of oil.

The cabinet top is rough – Potted Plant Disease.  The decals are all worn off.  But that’s because she was used!  No telling what was made on this machine when she was young, but in her later life my momma made clothes for her mother and our family each summer.  My guess is she was only used the 3 to 6 weeks we visited my grandmother each summer.

Mary — she’s wearing the spool doily you made me.

treadle-head

Now to order a belt, clean her up and get her back in the cabinet so I can sew on her.

5 Thoughts on “Miss Florence Jane Has Arrived

  1. My Grandma on my Father’s side was Florence Adell. LOVE your red eye that belonged to family! the doily looks perfect on there. I’m wishing I knew who got my grandma’s machine. I know who has my mothers. Thanks for sharing! Bonnie Hunter would love to see her too.

  2. What a treasure. I envy you as I got rid of my grandma’s treadle machine…. stupid me! But someone has a beautiful table from the case. Have fun with her.

  3. Oh, Miss Florence Jane is a beauty! Be sure to add a written note into one of her drawers saying just where you are storing the motor and foot pedal so that in the future those are not totally lost. I love the history of the old machines, so precious!

  4. Gina Hare on April 2, 2013 at 3:30 pm said:

    So wonderful, Pam! I wish I had my great grandma’s machine, I remember it sitting in the bedroom (with the potted plants on it, of course!). Thanks for sharing. –Gina in Missouri

  5. That is a ‘red eye’ 66. I have one that I converted to a hand crank (head only, no base). My grandmother loved her treadle. I wish I knew what kind she had. I never paid attention, and, both it and she have been gone almost 30 years now. She is part of why I collect treadles now. Enjoy your pretty machine.

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