It's an Antique. . .

. . . as in One Hundred Years Old!

White Rotary USA Treadle Sewing Machine
Serial FR2221746, Circa 1913

This old treadle sewing machine is in dire need of some TLC.  She has served 100 years or more of sewing beautiful garments for three generations!

This is the exact sewing machine I first learned to sew as a little girl.  I can remember sewing with my sister, Germaine Cruz, clothes for our Barbie dolls. Oh, what fun we had peddling and stitching till we were summoned to do our household chores. I remembered first sewing in the third grade, probably about nine years old then.

I recently learned that this is the exact sewing machine that my maternal grandmother, Rosa Q. Palomo, known to me as "Nana," sewed clothes for her family all these years. Later, the sewing machine was passed down to my mother, Isabel P. Ibanez, who also sewed clothes for her family till she acquired a Singer 500A (1963).  To this day, Isabel still has her Singer 500A!

Maintenance and care on the antique sewing machine was provided by my grandfather, Juan G. Palomo, known to me as "Tata," and then by my father, Delmacio S.N. Ibanez.  I have now taken possession of this antique sewing machine and hope to be able to restore it.  Much of the restoration will be dependent on the cost.  Mrs. Marmalade sure seems to think it's doable!  I suppose I should roll up my sleeves and put some elbow grease on it!  I sure would like to get this o'l gal up and running!

The sewing machine survived WWI (1914), the Depression Era (1929-1940), Pacific War WWII (1941-1944), and numerous catastrophic typhoons, including Super Typhoon: Karen (1962), Paka (1997), and Pongsona (2002).  It was Super Typhoon Pongsona that caused major damage to the sewing machine when flooding occurred in the basement where the sewing machine was stored.

Juan and Rosa Palomo

Delmacio and Isabel Ibanez