vintage treadle machinery

[mattybock]

I had a look at some of these old victorian era (1890s or so) lathes. Beautiful machines, even if there were exposed gears and no paint. I like them.

Any way, seems most lathes of the long ago were run via treadle power, like a singer sewing machine. Small shops just couldn't afford a steam engine and the engineer to match, so treadles were the order of the day.

Has anyone actually used treadle machinery, or hand powered machines? If so, what did you think about the experience?

 

[54ball]

I've seen illustrations of a small colonial wooden lathe powered by a bow and string. It was foot powered and spun back and forth, not in a constant spin.

While its true small shops would have used foot power but any medium to big operation would have used water or steam power. On these big machines large leather belts gave power to the individual machines in the factory.

 

[jdkerstetter]

...wooden lathe powered by a bow and string. It was foot powered and spun back and forth, not in a constant spin.

Spring-pole lathe. Honorable Company of Horners has a member who reproduced a nice one and uses it for demonstrations. He was at their Guild meeting at Carlisle, Pa and at Dixon's.

His is completely self contained but you could power one off an overhead tree limb, if need be.

The pain in the butt is, as you said, it turns one way under the operator's foot pressure and the other way on the return. You can only cut in one direction of travel so he has to move the tool in and out constantly. Belt driven is obviously the better way to go.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Elnathan]

I have never used one, but Roy Underhill has info on a couple types of human-powered wood lathes in one of his book, including plans IIRC.

 

[Tinker2]

Has anyone actually used treadle machinery, or hand powered machines?

I’ve used treadle and hand powered machines.

If so, what did you think about the experience?

I still do use some but not exclusively.


William Alexander

 

[Rev_William]

I have never used one, but Roy Underhill has info on a couple types of human-powered wood lathes in one of his book, including plans IIRC.

He also did a cpl shows on his pbs series in the 1st season or 2nd season using it. It was pretty cool wish I had a place to set one up

 

[craigl]

Lots of videos of both treadle and (even simpler) bow lathes available online. Here's a couple variations on the treadle lathe:

Treadle lathes

And here is an astounding demonstration of what can be achieved using a bow lathe. You really should watch this one:

Moroccan bow lathe

Complete mastery of one's art.

 

[jerrywh]

I saw a photo of a lathe run by dogs in the book Three centuries of Liege Gunmaking. John Twigg in England had 12 lathes in his inventory upon his death.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have used a treadle powered scroll saw and a lathe. The saw worked quite well. The lathe was ok for wood but did a poor job turning a brass jag. I would have hated to use one on iron or steel. I currently have a treadlle powered forge blower and a post drill.The drill works ok but it is really "just for show". The forge blower is preferable to the crank one I have. :idunno:

 

[44-henry]

I saw a mid size treadle metal lathe at an estate sale many years ago, I wish I had purchased it as the price was decent. I know lots of woodworkers who have built treadle machines. There was even a project some years back to teach people in other countries with high poverty rates how to build treadle lathes from common materials. It was thought it would be a good way to boost the economy by sale of local craft goods to tourists. I do not remember much about the details of the project, but it was interesting.

 

[Birdman]

biggest thing you will learn is patience YA CAN;T HURRY A TREADLE OR SPRING POLE , YA HAVE TO LET THE TOOLS N MACHINE DO THE WORK AT ITS OWN SPEED, oops sorry for the caps.

 

[Rev_William]

biggest thing you will learn is patience YA CAN;T HURRY A TREADLE OR SPRING POLE , YA HAVE TO LET THE TOOLS N MACHINE DO THE WORK AT ITS OWN SPEED, oops sorry for the caps.

Thats ok Birdman at your age we know the hearing isn't as good as it used to be :blah:

 

[Birdman]

you be nice Rev or I'l sic a manitu on you hahahaha

 

[Rev_William]

:surrender: