Project description
The main task is mechanical: the treadle mechanism itself needs to be disassembled, the pitman rod and balance wheel bearings cleaned of old hardened grease, and every moving joint re-lubricated with the correct light oil. The leather belt connecting the treadle to the balance wheel is cracked and must be replaced with a new leather belt cut to length and laced with a proper hook-and-eye or skived joint. Inside the head, the bobbin case and shuttle assembly need to be cleaned of lint and dried oil residue, and the tension assembly disc springs checked for even pressure so the stitch does not pucker or loop underneath.
I would also like the timing checked between the needle bar and the shuttle hook, since the stitch currently skips every few inches. Cosmetically, light rust should be removed from nickel-plated parts without damaging the decals, and the wooden treadle base and cabinet drawers should be cleaned, any loose veneer re-glued, and refinished with an appropriate period-correct wax or shellac rather than modern polyurethane.
Please describe your experience with treadle-era machines specifically, what lubricants and belt materials you use, and provide a rough timeline from pickup to a fully functioning, smoothly treadling machine that produces an even, balanced stitch on both cotton and denim test fabric.