Been selling a lot of whats left on EBay, been unemployed since March and sort of need the cash. I've also reached this wonderful Buddha like feeling of impermanence with regards to stuff, something I've never felt before. It's quite liberating, and with few exceptions I truly feel that I can let go of nearly everything.

Nearly.

Last week I sold, for a ridiculously low price, the childhood desk of fabulous husband. Only fair that I sell something treasured of my own, something furniture like and equally unused, I reasoned. Years ago I laboured under the delusion that I would learn to sew, and a friend gave me an old treadle machine. Each person who has tried to show me how to thread the damn thing has been mystified and stumped, from entry level crafters to full on seamstresses who've used manually powered rotary's before. So I posted this item, which appears to be in working order and has an excellent case, albeit paint splattered and chipped in places (came that way, not me), on a few of the sales sites I'd used. No nibbles. Then I decided to post it on EBay. Not wanting to get hosed on what the actual value of it is (I'd thought about $200, fabulous husband thought around a grand) I started for the first time to research it online. Quite unfortunately for the sake of selling a thing, I've fallen more than a little in love. Somehow I'm going to keep it.

What we have is a fully functional 1917 White Family Rotary make treadle sewing machine, all known attachments in play, leather belt drive in need of replacing due to warping but still whole, most parts in need of oil. The White Rotary makes were build opposite to a singer - hence the stumping of all manner of Singer raised seamstresses. The company managed it's own forests to control wood costs and although it's kind of hard to tell anymore I think it might be Tiger oak. The inlay on the board is a measuring stick set in place along the front of the machine measuring about a foot; it's raised and not in great repair but not too bad either. There is a whole community of online fans for this type of sewing machine, and although most prefer the more pleasing Mission style case (mine is iron and wood, heavy as fuck, tiny wheels that will tear up almost any modern floor) there are also resources for use, repair and preservation. What's more, one of the main reasons people like them is that they are entirely environmentally friendly - totally people powered machines, therefore lowered carbon foot print. There appears to be a revival going on where interest in rotary people powered machines is concerned that may only grow over time - currently, such machines are selling from anywhere between $50 and $700. I want to keep it, order a manual from any one of the online dealers I've found, learn to use it, possibly do a documentary about it. Maybe scan said antique manual and sell it as an online PDF, who knows. But if I'm going to sew at all it looks like the only machine for me.