1930 Singer Treadle Sewing Machine

Guess what I have? Can you? Can you guess?
Yep. You read the title correctly. 
I have been admiring antique sewing machines since I started my own self-guided education into the world of sewing about 4 years ago. Has it been that long? It doesn't feel like it.

On our trip to Savannah we were poking around in different shops and found a couple of older singer sewing machines. I thought it would be nice to have one in my studio. Something old, loved, useful, and a reminder of this art that has been going on for hundreds of years before I decided it would be fun to learn to sew. But, the ones we saw in Savannah cost a bit more than I was willing to pay for something to sit on a shelf and be gawked at.

Left photo: Tybee Island lighthouse family house/museum. Top/bottom right photos: antique shops in Savannah.

Anyway, one weekend my husband wanted to go to visit his family and look through a storage unit that they were renting to house all of his grandparents' things after they passed away several years ago. They had a bunch of stuff and I told him to not bring anything back home. We don't have room for anything else in our house, it is crowded enough. 

He said ok. 

When he returned there was stuff in the back of the truck, and it didn't look like a little bit of stuff. I frowned at him. He said, "I know you told me to not bring anything back home, but I think you will want this." I wasn't so sure. Then, he pulled the tarp/covering back from the bed of the truck to reveal a treadle sewing machine! Of all things! 

And now it is mine. But it comes with some stipulations. It's the same deal that we made with his uncle over another piece of furniture that hub's grandfather made. I keep my fabric in it. 

I can't paint it or get rid of it. I have to keep it. Deal!

Apparently this wasn't the only antique sewing machine that this family owns. There is also another antique sewing machine that was electrified. I am not sure if it is in the storage unit or the uncle's house...?

We set it up in my studio once I cleared out a little place for it. The kids creative area will be a bit smaller, but they will just have to live with it.

My "new" sewing machine needs some cleaning and a little love. I'm sure it could use the touch of a professional to get it into proper working order. It also needs a new belt, the one that was with it is broken, before it can be used for sewing. And then I have to learn how to actually use it.

I did some research online and learned that it was from 1930 based on the serial number on the machine. 

Thank you wonderful husband for not listening to me. :)

Some of the writers of blogs I follow actually have an antique sewing machine that they still use because the new-fangled machines just don't cut it. Mostly I like to think that going back to the simplicity of a treadle machine is cathartic for them and brings back lovely memories from childhood. Sentimentality is a wonderful thing. And you can sew if the power goes out so it is also practical. 

We put it in the corner next to my modern sewing machine that came from the same grandmother. Now they are both mine and I will treasure them. I'm not sure how much use I will get out of the treadle, if I can get it into proper working order, but I do see it being useful in housing projects that need attention. I'll try to not let it collect too many unfinished projects and make sure it gets the respect it deserves.

I like thinking about how a treadle sewing machine changed the lives of early 20th century women. Instead of hand sewing everything, this prized possession came into their home and they could make so much more for their families in a shorter amount of time. The pioneers of home machine sewing. 

I'm sure in 1930 owning a home sewing machine was a big deal, and not a cheap one as well. I think of the show, The Waltons, and Olivia sewing something for her children during The Great Depression, and how appreciative they were of anything that they owned during that time when so many people had little money. A treadle sewing machine must have felt like a luxury.

Today, in my world, owning a quality embroidery machine would by my sewing luxury. Do you have a sewing luxury?

Savannah trip #2

My hard-working husband had been wanting a break from work for a while, but things at work kept preventing him/us from taking said break. We both needed some time away from everything. We sent the kiddos up north to visit the grandparents for a long weekend and we headed south for a mini, adult only vacation. Off to Savannah, Ga. we went! Also, this would coincide with our planned date night for the month of April. Win, win! I know, it has taken me this long to finish this post. Slacker.

We had a great time, despite the weather. It was cold, and rainy with the promise of warming up after we left. Naturally.

We did a lot of walking, sightseeing, and visiting some places we enjoyed the first time around. 

This time we made it to the Tybee Island lighthouse. Man, that thing is hard to find. I had never been in a lighthouse before. I had seen a small one once at the beach, but have never visited one, despite having grown up in NC where lighthouses abundantly exist on the outer banks, and I've never been there. It's on my list of things to do and see when we take the kids on vacation with us, one day. 

The lighthouse complex has several houses you can visit and take a look inside. This residence was for the family and we got a peek at what life was like in the early 20th century on Tybee Island.

Be still, my heart - a singer treadle sewing machine. Of course there would be one in the house. I couldn't get great photos of it because of the light coming through the window it sat in front of, but I love it!

Quilts throughout the house:

These toys would be of interest to my kids:

Across the street is another museum that you can walk around in with the admission to the lighthouse. So we headed over there to see what we could see.

We learned about the history of Tybee Island and Savannah.

I loved the history of the island in its heyday. I think my kids would have enjoyed the pavilion even back then. 

It's so colorful and I love that they had photos of the carnival rides as well as some of the actual pieces!

Aww, this poor clown. Why is he so sad?

Some more fun rides.

There was also history about the girl scouts, since the founder was from that area.

Tybee Island was a nice visit. We enjoyed it.

In Savannah, we did some sightseeing, shopping, and window shopping. I discovered a couple more antique sewing machines in two other shops.

This one was in a thrift store full of neat treasures. This singer is electrified. I took a peek underneath the body and I don't think everything was there that would be needed to make it work. I think it would make a cute decorative piece for my studio. I ended up leaving it in the store, but I did have an interesting conversation with a man whose daughter had a treadle sewing machine that she may or may not have been wanting to part with. In the end, he determined she would probably never get rid of it.

This featherweight was in an antique store on the riverfront. I couldn't inspect it much as it was behind glass in a locked cabinet.

Savannah is a great place to visit. One day we will have to take the kids with us. I think they would enjoy it, as there is so much to do, walk along the riverfront, watch the cargo ships pass by, parks to play in, and of course the candy stores where you can see them make taffy.

It was nice to not have a schedule, to not have to get up early, to not be awakened by kid noise, or barking dogs, or a whiny cat that wants to be fed.

We enjoyed our little break from life and parenting and most of all got to enjoy just being alone together. We'll have to do it again soon.