Schacht Matchless Single Treadle Spinning Wheel

The Schacht Matchless Single Treadle was the first spinning wheel Schacht ever made, released in 1987, and the wheel the rest of the line was built around. Schacht discontinued it in 2020. These are factory-new, built to current specification, with full Schacht warranty. Paradise Fibers is the only place selling them new.

What you're getting is the wheel that earned its reputation: the studio anchor that handles fine to bulky on one frame, with three drive modes (Scotch tension, double drive, bobbin lead), the full whorl range from 4:1 up to 21:1, four full-size Standard Spinning Wheel Bobbins, and the Tensioned Lazy Kate included as standard. The flyer system rides on self-aligning bronze bearings. The drive wheel is 19.5 In, the orifice sits 28 In off the floor, the frame weighs roughly 17 lb of solid maple, maple plywood, and black walnut accents, hand-rubbed Danish oil finish. Made in Boulder, Colorado, like every Schacht wheel since 1969.

What sets this version apart from the current double-treadle Matchless is the treadle itself. One broad treadle wide enough to rest both feet on or just one, with a single footman driving the wheel. Above the treadle plate the mechanism is shared with the double treadle Matchless; everything from the mother-of-all upward is identical. Below it, the wheel behaves differently, and that difference is why some spinners specifically seek out a single treadle.

Who chooses single treadle

The most common reason is the freedom to switch feet. With a broad single treadle, you can work one foot, swap to the other when it tires, or rest both feet on the treadle together. Long sessions stop being a stamina contest with one specific leg.

Knee or hip considerations are another reason. If bilateral treadling is uncomfortable, or you need to keep one foot off the wheel entirely, a single treadle lets you spin without working around the wheel.

If you learned on a single treadle and your hands work the fiber without thinking while your foot keeps the rhythm, double treadle's bilateral coordination can disrupt what's already automatic. Many returning Matchless and Schacht-Reeves spinners come back to single treadle for exactly this reason.

Single treadle also opens up different seating. On a double treadle you're pinned square to the wheel because both feet are committed. On a single treadle you can sit centered, sit at an angle, or lean back and work long draw from a sideways position.

One broad treadle, two feet or one

Schacht calls this a single treadle. You'll also see it called a tandem treadle. Both terms describe the same design: one treadle wide enough to rest both feet on or use just one.

Narrow single-treadle wheels force one foot only, offset to one side of the wheel. That has been the historical standard for centuries, and it works for many spinners, but it creates a fixed asymmetry over long sessions. The broad single treadle lets you sit centered on the wheel and use one foot, both feet, or alternate as you go. It is the closest a single treadle has come to offering the same postural range as a double treadle while keeping the simplicity and single-foot freedom of the traditional design.

Built to current specification

These are not vintage wheels. They are not refurbished. They are factory-new, built to the current Matchless spec that the in-production double treadle uses. That means:

• The current grooved Mother of All with quick release lever, introduced January 2012. The front maiden attaches with a single QRL flip, not the older T-knob.
• The current wooden treadle support and brace, not the older metal support.
• The current PVC treadle hinges, introduced 2016, not the older leather hinges.
• The same self-aligning bronze bearings, the same flyer assembly, the same bobbin and whorl ecosystem as the in-production double treadle Matchless.

What that means in practice: every current Matchless accessory, every current replacement part, and every Schacht repair workflow that supports the double treadle Matchless supports this wheel exactly the same way. The single treadle Matchless was discontinued; the parts that make it up were not.

What's Included

• Matchless Single Treadle Spinning Wheel
• 4 Standard Spinning Wheel Bobbins (WS6701, maple, full-size)
• Medium and Fast Speed whorls (maple)
• Tensioned Lazy Kate (WS6601), the same kate included with the double treadle Matchless
• Orifice hook
• Cotton drive bands (pre-tied for double drive, plus an extra length)
• Carrying strap
• Manual

Specifications

Spinning ratios

Medium and Fast whorls cover the broad middle of handspinning, from worsted-weight singles through standard 2-ply yarns. Most spinners never need additional whorls. The optional Slow and Extra Slow whorls add control for chunky and bulky art yarn singles. The High and Super High whorls extend the wheel into laceweight singles, fine 3-ply yarns, and tightly-plied sock yarns. The High and Super High Speed whorls require the High Speed Bobbin. All Schacht whorls are interchangeable across the four current wheels and available in maple or cherry.

Compatible Accessories

Every current Matchless accessory fits this wheel exactly as it fits the double treadle.

• Matchless Bulky Plyer Flyer Package: choose the Quick Release Lever (WS6513) configuration for this wheel, since it ships with the current QRL front maiden. The Bulky Plyer Flyer has a 7/8 In orifice and 8 oz bobbin capacity for bulky yarns, art yarns, and plying.
• Additional WS6701 Standard Maple Bobbins for spinners who want extras for plying or staging multiple projects.
• WS6703 High Speed Bobbin, required for double drive mode at High and Super High whorl ratios, where the bobbin spins actively and the High Speed Bobbin's geometry is designed for it.
• Matchless Spinning Wheel Cart (WS6801) for moving the wheel between studio spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Schacht Matchless Single Treadle still in production?

No. Schacht discontinued the single treadle Matchless in 2020. The double treadle Matchless remains in production. These wheels are factory-new units built to current specification, available at Paradise Fibers as the only retailer carrying them new.

Will Schacht still service this wheel?

Yes. This is a current-spec Matchless. The maiden assembly, flyer, bobbins, whorls, drive system, and most parts are shared with the double-treadle Matchless that Schacht is still building. The two-year limited warranty applies.

Are replacement parts available?

Yes, and broadly. The Mother of All, flyer, bobbins, whorls, footman, drive band, treadle hinges, and treadle support are shared parts with the double-treadle line. Paradise Fibers stocks the full Schacht parts catalog and can quote any item Schacht still services.

Can I convert this to a double treadle later?

Yes. Schacht's R-16-970001 Single Treadle to Double Treadle Conversion Kit will convert the wheel if your spinning changes. The conversion only runs in that direction. Schacht does not offer a double-to-single conversion, which is part of why owning the factory single treadle from the start matters: this is the only way to have one without buying used.

What is the difference between the single treadle and double treadle Matchless?

Above the treadle plate, mechanically identical. Same drive wheel, same flyer system, same MOA, same bobbins and whorls and accessories. The single treadle uses one broad treadle with one footman; the double treadle uses two independent treadles with two footmen for phase-offset bilateral treadling. The choice is about how you want to interact with the wheel below the knees.

What is a tandem treadle?

Schacht's own term is "single treadle." The design is also described as a tandem treadle because the treadle is broad enough to accommodate both feet together or one foot at a time. Both phrases describe the same thing.

Is single treadle good for beginners?

Yes. Many spinning teachers historically taught on single treadle, and the broad-treadle design removes the asymmetry concerns of narrow single-treadle wheels. The wheel's broad ratio range and three drive modes mean it adapts as your skills develop.

Is single treadle easier on the hips or knees than double treadle?

It depends on the spinner. Single treadle allows centered seating, postural freedom, switching feet to manage fatigue, and one-foot operation for spinners who need to keep one foot off the wheel. Double treadle distributes effort across both feet more evenly and many spinners prefer that load-sharing. There is no universal answer. Many spinners specifically choose single treadle for the ability to sit at an angle, lean back, or switch which foot is engaged across a long session.

Does this wheel take the same bobbins as the double treadle Matchless?

Yes. Same Standard Spinning Wheel Bobbins (WS6701), same Travel Bobbins, same High Speed Bobbins, same Bulky Bobbins. The full whorl range is interchangeable. The Bulky Plyer Flyer fits as long as you order the Quick Release Lever (QRL) variant matched to the current front maiden on this wheel.

What is the warranty?

Two-year limited warranty from Schacht Spindle Company, covering defects in material and workmanship for the original consumer purchaser. These wheels are factory-new, not refurbished or used. Standard Schacht warranty terms apply.

Why was the single treadle discontinued in 2020?

Production volume on the single treadle had fallen to a handful of wheels per year as the double treadle became the standard across the spinning market. Schacht consolidated production on the double treadle in 2020. The double-treadle Matchless and the rest of Schacht's spinning line continue unchanged.

What Mother of All does this wheel use?

The current grooved Mother of All (R-16-900013) with quick release lever holding the front maiden. This is the spec Schacht introduced in January 2012 and continues to use on the in-production double-treadle Matchless. Not the legacy pre-2012 flat MOA with the T-knob.

For comparison shopping, see the Schacht Matchless Double Treadle Spinning Wheel page.