treadle in a corn crib

While I was "overhearing" a conversation between my friend and a farm owner today...

Farm Owner: something something something treadle sewing machine something something...
Me: ooh, I've always wanted one of those...
FO: do you really want one?
Me: oh, yeah!
FO: there's one in the corn crib, take it
Me: don't offer unless you really mean it- I'll take it!
FO: load it up!

Into the truck it went. Everything included- cabinet, accessories, manual, the works. B series, manual is for model 127-8, not too bad of shape for living uncovered in a corn crib for who knows how many years (the farm owner is in her 60's). Treadle moves, nothing frozen up, needle goes up and down, very dirty!

My question for those who in the know: as I know NOTHING about these machines, how do I find someone to restore it? What kind of info do I need to know beforehand to ensure getting someone who knows what they're doing? What is the best way to clean the dirt off without damaging the ornamentation? Help, please!!

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Twila
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" M. Oliver

I would vacuum. Then gently wash to get it clean. Then I would call around until I found a repair person that knows treadles. I'd leave cleaning the mechanical parts to the professional. Be sure to order a couple new belts for it. Oh, great find!!!!!!!!

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This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Here is one I highly recommend!

http://blog.sew-classic.com/
I got a refurbished Singer ( not a treadle) and couldn't be more pleased with it!

http://treadleon.net/

everything you need to know about restoring one is here! There is an email list too that can help you restore it. They're a great group of people....much like this board!

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Ginnie..
http://ginniequilts.blogspot.com/
You can say what you want about the South,
But you never hear of anyone retiring and moving North.

I was going to recommend TreadleOn, too.
Jenny (at SewClassic) posts here and probably knows more about vintage machines than the rest of us put together!

However, I always recommend people do their research and do their own restores. Particularly with a treadle where there's no electrical component to make it trickier. But if you do your own restore, you have to get to know your machine inside and out, as well as the pride of having something beautiful that you've done yourself.
And vintage machines are pretty forgiving. The very reason so many of us prefer them, afterall. But they're DIY friendly so long as you're patient, keep careful track of anything you've taken off, and put things back the way you started. lol

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

Awe. Some!

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~Island of Bluebells, Woman of the Last Frontier~

Thank you all for the info shared. As I really wouldn't know where to start, I think my safest bet is to have it professionally done, and then play and learn with it!

Whoops, I mean HER, not it. Her name is Matilda, and by her serial number she's a 1905 model.

ErinP, I agree with the pride factor of doing it yourself, but with my schedule time is limited, and I can't wait to see this girl back to her former beauty! (especially since another potential new restoration project may be dropping into my lap- a vis-a-vis carriage...)

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Twila
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" M. Oliver

Oooohhh.... I'll trade ya a mostly-restored Singer 127 for your carriage...

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

The treadle-on site has lots of great information for getting an old treadle up and running!

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Jenny from Sew-Classic
Discount Sewing Machine Parts & Supplies

Wow, lucky you! That's so cool!

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http://tinksquared.com

Ya'all are so right, the TreadleOn site is a wealth of information. I've learned so much about this machine just reading through the site. Matilda is now in three pieces- the machine is headed to the shop to get redone, and the cabinet and treadle I'll do myself. The cabinet is in the worst shape of all, the veneer is cracked in several places. The treadle has only a bit of rust on the bottom, I think I can hit it with a wire wheel and paint it and it will look good as new.

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Twila
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" M. Oliver

Good for you Twila!

It's so much fun to tackle a project that sparks your interest and sometimes it's good to delegate stuff too! You've got your bases covered on both counts!

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Jenny from Sew-Classic
Discount Sewing Machine Parts & Supplies

What I was told to do about the veneer that was cracked or coming loose at an edge was to take a qtip and wood glue and just get some glue up under it.

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Ginnie..
http://ginniequilts.blogspot.com/
You can say what you want about the South,
But you never hear of anyone retiring and moving North.

One of my treadle cabinets got ruined in our move while in storage (wet) so i picked up another cabinet only for 10 bucks at a yard sale. Loaded it into the back of the truck and strapped it down . On the way home the veneer was blowing off like crazy most of it stayed in the bed of the truck. My BIL said he can fix it . so maybe someday I will get a perfect cabinet out of the 2 and I think I will make a table out of the bottom iron off the other one.

WOW, what an awesome find!!!!!!!