Yes, Pleater, one of my grandmothers, the one I grew up living with for a time, had two of the treadle machines. Neither worked anymore.

I have noticed that the polyester thread slips a lot more than the cotton. I have to rethread my needel sometimes when using the polyester because it slips through the eye so easily. I like sewing with all cotton, quilting thread for some reason; probably because it's a little thicker and easier for me to handle. I use the polyestor for working on my kilt, though.