Hobbies treadle fretworking machine

Exhibit
Hobbies treadle fretworking machine
location:
Arch Four , Area 74 Arch Four, Overhead

Hobbies advert, including a line drawing of a boy working a Hobbies treadle-driven fretwork machine [image info]

1939, Hobbies British-made Tools [image info]

A treadle-powered fretworking machine, made by "Hobbies".

These machines made fretworking much easier than "doing it by hand" with a hand-held fretsaw: The work was held on a solid flat bed, and the user could use both hands to slowly and accurately move the marked-up wood while it was being cut, with their foot providing the cutting power.