Hi! This treadle opens with a sliding chain (inside the top part of the cabinet) and pulls up the sewing machine with one smooth movement. This is unlike any other treadle I've seen where you simply open the top and pull up the machine. Is this feature unique to the Raymond Treadle and does this make the treadle more rare? I just bought it for Cd 150 and it is tiger oak and the cabinet is round with 2 drawers on each side. Thank you, Truffles

If there is a patent dates listed on the machine, then it is likely that the way to open it is unique to the Raymond Treadle.

I don't know about the rarity of the machine because I don't know how many of them were manufactured. I do know that the values of old treadle sewing machines has been discussed at length on this site. I would suggest typing in sewing machine in the search feature at the top of this page as well as clicking on the links at the bottom of this page to other questions about antique sewing machines. You are likely to find helpful information by doing those things. I would suggest doing both because you will get different results.

Hello, what you are desribing is a chain or pulley lift. It is not unique to the Raymond machine.

Hello, what you are desribing is a chain or pulley lift. It is not unique to the Raymond machine.

Thank you for the clarification! Glad to know that there's someone here who does really know sewing machines! :)

So what other treadle sewing machines have the pulley lift besides the Raymond?

I have a Davis, a Franklin, (A Franklin is a "badged" machine that was built by the Domestic sewing machine company and marketed by Sears with whatever name they chose), an Eldredge 2 spool (badged National-National made all the sewing machines marketed by Montgomery Wards until the 50's) and a Free sewing machine that all have the chain lift system.

Sorry, I hit send too fast. Go to webshots, user fireftnchick and look at some of the machines there. The machines I am talking about are all US made, non-Singer machines.

Has anyone been able to determine where on the net we can possible date these non-singer machines? I have a Free No. 5 I just picked up.

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Thank you!