1873 Singer New Family MOP Folding Bonnet Treadle
 

I posted this a few days ago in the "For Giggles" Section...

Well, I was weak.... I emailed, I called, I drove....I paid....

And then I GIGGLED and GIGGLED and GIGGLED some more. Kinda like the proverbial "silly school girl" (which I have never actually seen, even though I have three daughters....)

Why was I giggling?

Because of what it REALLY is...
(The third OLDEST machine in my entire collection)

1873 Singer New Family (LATER called a Model 12)
Mother Of Pearl on the machine
Some Designs left....
Still oiled and moves smoothly
Folding bonnet lid (becomes work surface)
EARLY FLAT treadle drive
Original TWO page fold out manual
Puzzle box with accessories
portions of the accessories manual
Original tucker
Something like a tucker that I have never seen
Bed screws
Brass seam guide
Hemmer feet
Wrench
TWO shuttles
14 bobbins

I just purchased from the Great Grandson of the original owner.

"She Emigrated to SF in the early 1870's and the first thing they did after they got the house settled was to go buy this machine.... and get to work on it" It was one of two major items the family saved during the 1906 Earthquake and fire"

Really? REALLY??? Ok, how many of YOU could have said no???:p

I have exchanged personal emails with them. They are writing up the whole family history with this including names, dates, and address if possible. I have assured them that should ANY member of their family decide that they want it back in the family, the price will not change and it will be theirs with no hesitation.

Pictures after she is properly dressed...

But a quick tease pic just to put this find in perspective..

I present the drawer....
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484059[/ATTACH]

(No, I cannot leave the puzzle box in there when putting it away)

I had a feeling that one had your name on it Steve!

Ok, I have NEVER seen (or even heard of) this...

Instead of ONE foot plate, it has two separate feet that operate in a pumping manner!!

They connect to a pair of one way pulleys which take turns driving the drive wheel which drives the machine using a typical round leather belt.

The ORIGINAL straps are there so I can use them to make new ones.

This is TOO COOL!!

congrats on the purchase - I'll be waiting to see the "Something like a tucker that I have never seen"

I could not have said no. Congratulations on another beauty for your collection!

So cool! Have fun fixing her up; I'll probably be checking the board every hour until you post pictures. That treadle sounds really interesting. I can't wait to see more about it!

How wonderful, what history, and no, you couldn't say "no!" I, also, look forward to pictures!

And your offer to the family is very generous and exceptional.

Thanks everyone.

FYI - I make the offer to ANY machine that I buy from a descendant of the original(or really early) owner.
I also get permission to include families by name in the doc's. otherwise i generalize the documents
(I still have a record that is passed with any machine)

Ok so here she is.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484089[/ATTACH]

the pump drive mechanism
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484090[/ATTACH]

Close up
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484091[/ATTACH]

the separate feet
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484092[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]484093[/ATTACH]


So, here it is beginning to open up the top
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484094[/ATTACH]

folding the face plate up
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484095[/ATTACH]

and locking in place. (THIS was elegant..)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484096[/ATTACH]

and the sides laid out to be the rest of the work surface
[ATTACH=CONFIG]484097[/ATTACH]