World without oil - Whateverwithoutoil "T" Treadle without oil

 

 

Sometimes we seek modern solutions to our problems, when a quick look into our past will offer the perfect fix. Now that the oil has run out, I think that we have to ask the simple question, “What did people do before oil?” A cursory look into history yields a plethora of information. For instance, the use of the treadle as a means of power.

 

The treadle is a very old method of producing rotary motion. It consists of nothing more than a foot pedal which is attached to a rod, which is in turn mounted to the outside of a wheel. As the pedal is moved back and forth, the wheel is forced into a rotary motion. Connect a belt to any machine that requires this kind of motion and there you go! You will have power for your lathe, your generator, or whatever you need. A perfect example of this is the treadle sewing machine. 

 

Long before electrical power was available in most homes, sewing was done either by hand or with the use of a treadle sewing machine. One company, Singer®, made these machines up till the seventies for third world countries.  Because people in general tend to be sentimental packrats, the machine that belonged to Grandma, or Aunt Julie or whomever, has been stored away somewhere..(“That belonged to ______ we just can’t throw it out!!!”)  As a result these machines are still being kept in garages, breezeways and attics. Hundreds of these things are still lying around. 

 

Let’s suppose you found one of these gems. Chances are that the machine you just picked up has not been used for a while. In addition to cleaning up the cabinet, you will have to disassemble the head and re-oil it. Take a picture of every feature of the sewing machine. Document every process that you use to tear the machine down. (Believe me there are a lot of little parts here!)  Now that you have it apart, clean the metal shafts with emery cloth, and soak every part that has a bushing in it in for 24 hours in mineral oil.        Use your pics to help you reassemble the head.

 

Believe me, you will be amazed at what foot power will do! These machines will sew through anything!   Even though I am not the best seamstress in the world, my machine still manages to fix my jeans and a sail or two, using no oil.  And now for the bonus. Remember how I said that the treadle could be used to produce rotary motion? When I am done sewing, I change the belt over to my generator and recharge all of the batteries for my laptop and my phones… Such a deal!!!!

 

I cannot help but close this post with a quote.

 

In the immortal words of Captain Jean Luc Picard:

 

“Make it sew!”

 

Regards,

 

Megiddo