Pedal below, connecting rod, flywheel, spindle. Press foot — workpiece turns. Chisel in hand — shaves. Chair leg in 10 minutes.
Design
Flywheel — cast iron, 15-20 kg. Inertia: one pedal press = 3-4 revolutions. Speed 500-800 RPM (electric does 1,500-3,000, but 800 is enough for wood).
What They Turn
Chair and table legs. Staircase balusters. Tool handles. Rolling pins. Candlesticks. Children's toys (spinning tops, faceless dolls).
A treadle lathe makes no noise. The craftsman hears the wood — how it sings when the chisel runs true. Scraping — too deep. Silent — too shallow. Right sound — a thin whistle. Only the craftsman hears it.