My grandmother owned a treadle-powered sewing machine. I think that it was a Singer. She once let me sew a few stitches with it. What a delight! It was like going back in time.
Those old treadle sewing machines didn't break easily. Even if electric sewing machines outpaced them, the foot-powered machines stayed in homes around the world. Many craftsmen have remade them into desks, tables, bars, bookshelves and more. Penny Carlson turned hers pictured above into an attractive parlor table.
This is only 1 of 60 treadle sewing machines remade for modern uses. You can find the rest at Recyclart.