Rare 1880-90s Belt Guide for Cast Iron Singer Treadle Sewing Machine Frame

Description

Very Important:
It’s easy to buy the wrong belt guide for your treadle frame because Singer changed the design several times over the years and the parts are not interchangeable. Since it’s easier to show you what fits what with pictures than it is to tell you in words, we have included several photographs of Singer treadle frames that are not included in this listing. Only the belt guide and its attachment bolt shown in photos one through four are included.
This belt guide came from a Singer treadle frame with an 1885 patent date and we’ve seen identical guides on frames with an 1887-88 date. Singer changed the shape of the frame legs and center brace many times over more than 100 years of production,
and that is very important
because this assembly will not fit Singer treadle frames manufactured just a few years before or after that 1885 patent date. But we have owned a ton of these things and we will show you how to figure it out, and the only part you need to examine is the center brace of your treadle frame. Take a close look at photo five.
The treadle frame this belt guide fits has an arched bow right in the middle of the center brace (look just above the middle of photo five) instead of the familiar rectangular SINGER found on newer frames (photo eight). Older frames had a giant “Singer” emblem on each side and either an oval (photo six) or a stretched-out square (photo seven) in the middle of the center support. So,
look for the bow
(photo five). If your Singer treadle has anything else in the middle of its center frame, this is the wrong belt guide for you.
Please remember that nothing shown in photos five through eight is included in this listing.
This belt guide attaches to the center brace of your treadle frame with the conical head bolt shown in photo four (included). The tapered head of the bolt goes into a matching tapered hole in the center brace.
These parts are more than 130 years old but are in good, solid condition. We brushed and vacuumed them and they match the condition of most treadle frames but they could use a thorough cleaning and polishing if your frame is in “showroom” condition.
My husband and I have owned and restored over 1000 antique and vintage Singer sewing machines and know quite a bit about them, so please ask if you have questions. We are happy to help you!
We invite you to take a look at our other eBay listings. We are selling many interesting and useful things.
All of our goods are unconditionally guaranteed. If you are not completely satisfied with this item when it arrives at your home, send it back and your money will be cheerfully refunded.
Thank you for looking in.