Originally Posted by KalamaQuilts

...What I'd like to see is a open sew where members would bring their vintage machines for the day. If that was where someone who was well versed in the finding cleaning care of the machines gave the talk members could come for that and then go on about their business while the rest had a sew in. If you take the head out of a treadle body they aren't that hard to bring in.
I would guess that those drawn in by the talk, then seeing machines in action, would tear home via thrift stores and pull up craigslist. It is addictive.

Ask next meeting how many use vintage machines
Ask how many have one of these machines in the back of closets, or working as a side table.
Then you'll know whether there is interest. The specialist could identify and give an eyeball idea of age (like the 15's made in Japan after WWII) and so on.
Where are you at? I want to come

or at least have a vintage machine sew in during the next quilt show. Too fun!