Repurposed Eldredge Vintage (sewing?) table

[fishwatcher]

I picked this up at a garage sale last weekend. It’s old, the table top is new, but I think this was repurposed from something else.

Looking up “vintage Eldredge” I see it might have been a sewing treadle. Any ideas? I’m keeping it outside and will use it as a handy table/shelf outside my shed and bbq.

It’s a little wobbly. I tried putting a single threaded rod and acorn/locking nuts through it.. but that didn’t do anything. I’d love to make more solid if you have suggestions.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Yes, it's a base for a treadle sewing machine. The foot treadle would have gone where that rod is now. There's a brief history of the company here: https://ismacs.net/national/from_eldredge_to_national_to_janome.html

When I was a kid my folks had a summer lake cabin, and there were a couple tables there built from Singer sewing machine bases. They sat outside for decades with little wear, they are pretty durable.

edit: It looks like there may be another hole just above the Eldridge lettering - if so you could maybe install another crossbar there.

 

[fishwatcher]

Wow.. looks like this base could easily be over 120 years old. Neat. Thanks @Stuart in MN.

I tightened up the main base nuts which stabilized the whole thing.

I have some Krud Kutter for Rust which I will use on the base and then maybe I’ll paint it before it gets too cold. The teak top could use a coat of sealer.. so I’ll try some boiled linseed oil I just got for another project.

It looks like turning treadles into tables is a thing on YouTube. Not quite as interesting or as popular as restoring vises, but here again is something I’ve learned about from GJ.

 

[nadogail]

Yes, it's a base for a treadle sewing machine. The foot treadle would have gone where that rod is now. There's a brief history of the company here: https://ismacs.net/national/from_eldredge_to_national_to_janome.html

When I was a kid my folks had a summer lake cabin, and there were a couple tables there built from Singer sewing machine bases. They sat outside for decades with little wear, they are pretty durable.

edit: It looks like there may be another hole just above the Eldridge lettering - if so you could maybe install another crossbar there.

Another tie rod , or Cross Bar, will make your table more rigid; but it will still be a parallelogram.

if the Upper Tie Rod could also be tied to the table surface, your table would be even more rigid.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

There was probably a wide cross-member joining the vertical sides where you have the small threaded rod. That cross-member mounted the treadle to the sides.

DAMHIKT . . .

Jim

PS: I have the bases, wood for the tops but nowhere to put the finished tables in our admittedly full house . . . LOL

 

[fishwatcher]

There was probably a wide cross-member joining the vertical sides where you have the small threaded rod. That cross-member mounted the treadle to the sides.

DAMHIKT . . .

Jim

PS: I have the bases, wood for the tops but nowhere to put the finished tables in our admittedly full house . . . LOL

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures. Why do treadles have wheeled bases? Mine look similar to yours. They only roll horizontally.