Name/Title
Edison Treadle MachineEntry/Object ID
5555.555.28Description
Treadle powered Edison sewing machine, Serial #322719 -- lacking treadle. 1891 - 1898Context
It should be noted that the provided dates are the patent dates, not the use dates. By the appearance of this machine, it would be safe to assume it was used for some time, possibly into the 20th century.
This machine is the "machine" part of a treadle machine. It would sit atop a small table or desk in which it is embedded into and instead of cranking the machine to make the needle run, the feet would gently press into a treadle at the bottom of the table which would then turn the wheel and make the needle move. The needle would go into the ball piece above the machine foot shown in photo 4, and the needle sizes are engraved in the plate adjacent. While often these machines were advertised to women, it would be irresponsible to assume they were only used by the women of society. It would however be safe to assume the first owner of this machine was not an individual who was living in poverty as machines are/were generally expensive and hand sewing was still very much a practiced (and affordable) skill. While there were smaller hand cranked machines available to those with less income, disposable income at least was still necessary as machines are luxuries, not necessities.
