Abstract: A control device comprising a housing having a bottom pin, and a cable drum mounted on said bottom pin said cable drum being stressed by a reset spring 11. The cable drum 6 is radially and axially guided, at its periphery, by offset supporting rollers (1c). A regulating member 8a of a potentiometer 8 is fixedly installed on the hub 6a of the cable drum 6. The tap pins 8b of the potentiometer 8 are arranged on the slide 9 axially movable in the hub. The slide 9 is connected with a treadle 3 by a tappet 10 provided with a ball-and-socket joint 9b, 10a. The treadle 3 is mounted to the housing 1 to be vertically pivotable by means of two pivots beside the cable drum 6. The blocking means for the cable drum 6, actuatable by remote control, is located between the two pivots. The device of the present invention is especially suited for the control of electrical household sewing machines.