Anyone have a pasta maker (not electric) that they love? How much? How about a good place to get a trendle sewing machine that is working? Laymens has one with the case for about $350. I want it for myself, for relaxation.

-- Margie B (Bromens5@navix.net), August 25, 2000

Answers

Margie, I occasionally see ads in the Little Nickle (one of the free weekly throwaway advertisers) for treadle sewing machines. You could place an ad in the WANTED TO BUY column. I bet you would get some responses. Also, any town with a sewing/vacuum type business usually either has treadle machines (often used) or would maybe know of another resource.

I looked at the one's in Lehman's catalog and thought spending $350 was high. I found a used treadle machine at a yard sale and paid $35 for it. I spent about $60 getting more parts. Make sure you get all the parts, particularly the bobbin mechanism under the plate (often missing) or at least know what you need to get when you purchase the machine. I had to replace the bobbin unit and get a new drive band, plus a few needles. Other than that, it works fine....just collecting dust at the moment, though! Pasta makers are way out of my league. Good luck to you!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 25, 2000.

I found two at different auctions and paid $20 for one, $25 for the other. I knew all the parts were there although someone had taken the drawers from the cheaper one. I cleaned and oiled them and they work just fine. Sheepish is right about checking for the bobbin assembly as they are easily lost.

Someone had a source for parts, belts, etc. here a while back. If there is a Singer dealer in your area, check with them.

I learned to sew on a treadle when my feet were so small I had to put one foot on the front edge and one on the back edge to make it move. My grandmother gave her old treadle to my mother who despite my protests used it as trade in for an electric machine. I begged for the machine, offered to pay for it from odd jobs but my mother only said, "What are YOU going to do with it?" It didn't matter--it had belonged to my grandmother whom I adored. The dealer gave her ten whole lousy dollars credit against the new machine and I bet it ended on a scrap heap somewhere. I would love to have a nickel for every time I heard my mother say she wished she had kept it.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), August 25, 2000.

I've had two treadle machines (still have the second one), my husband got one at a yard sale for $20 and the other for $40. Both were in good working order, except for belts, but I had no trouble getting those -- just call around to the sewing machine repair places. One caution, though -- the really old machines, pre-1911 (I think) don't back-stitch. So unless you want to tie off the ends of all your seams by hand look for one a little newer than that. I'm going to replace the old head on my current machine with an old electric head hooked up to the belt, because the old head won't backstitch -- and the electric head will also zig-zag. I will miss the light, though -- may have to put the machine in front of the window in order to use it. My dad, though he doesn't sew, still hangs onto his grandmother's old treadle machine, by the way! Hope he will pass it on to me when he is gone.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 25, 2000.

If your machine won't backstitch, try turning your work around (with the needle still down in the fabric) and sewing back the way you came from. We did this with an old machine when I was learning to sew almost 40 years ago. Of course, sometimes this won't work because of the size of the item you are sewing, but for garments, it's usually quite easy!

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), August 25, 2000.

I bought my White probably in the late 70's for $15. Except for needing refinishing was in excellent condition. Used it for a stereo stand, now TV stand. Along with it came a metal box with a number of attachments for the head. As near as I can tell they are guides to put ribbons, etc. on fabric.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 26, 2000.

I have an ATLAS, I think, pasta maker. It's the kind with the metal rollers and a handle, then another spot for putting the rolled dough through cutters. Mine has fettucine and spaghetti-size cutters. There is another type you can get that has a detachable cutter head, which you can replace with cutters for angel hair, ravioli, and the like. They all (should) have rollers with adjustable thickness. I got mine for $15 at a thrift shop and have seen others around the same price. It works great. You just make the dough good and stiff, cut off a chunk, send it through the rollers several times, starting with the widest setting and working down to as thin as you want it, then put it through the cutters and hang up to dry. Very yummy, with great texture.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), August 27, 2000.

Joy, thank you! Why didn't I ever think of that!!!

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 27, 2000.

Oh!! I wish I could find a treadle sewing machine! A neighbor has one that is just beautiful and in perfect shape for $75. Ofcourse, another neighbor wants its so I'm out of luck. I think the brand was Elgin(is that the watch people? Same place anyhow.) and it was her grandmothers. Good idea about placing an ad for one. I may do that.

-- Kathleen (krob777@msn.com), August 29, 2000.

I love my Atlas pasta maker. I have the basic model, that makes flat spaghetti and linguini, and I got it off e-bay for $21.50. With shipping of $10.00, it was still $20-30 dollars cheaper than I've seen it other places. Granted, mine wasn't a brand-new machine, but these Atlas machines are built to last, and there's no noticeable wear on mine.

-- Mary Jane Berth (Berthmama@aol.com), October 15, 2000.

I bought my ATLAS pasta maker for under $30 locally at a specialty store. A great investment and it has paid for itself, even with my infrequent usage. It comes w/ 2 sizes of noodle cuts, but you ca buy adapters at a reasonable price. Pasta is easy to make, and with fresh herbs you can make gourmet.

My brother is a professional chef, for over 17 years now, and recommends the ATLAS over any others.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), October 15, 2000.

I got my Atlas pasta machine at a garage sale for $5. including a drying rack. You can roll out noodle dough with a rolling pin and cut it with a knife just as well, without a fancy machine. My dear grandma always did, and her noodles were the best!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), October 15, 2000.

Clean broom handles and mop handles and clean (broken) shovel handles, etc. all work to hang the dough on. You can stretch them between two chairs.

I've used laundry racks too, but the handles are easier. Put clean towels/sheets under them because noodles will fall.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), October 15, 2000.

I'm sorry I don'thave an answer but I need help. I've got a very old Atlas sewing machine my grandmother gave me. I'd like to get some information on it and how to get it repaired. Any help?

-- Christy M (dove777_1999@yahoo.com), February 08, 2001.