Would you like to hear a speaker discuss vintage machines?
 

We are working on setting up speakers for 2018 for our guild.

One suggestion was a speaker on vintage machines. I know model #s etc. I have a Singer 201, there was a treadle at our house when I was little, and I see Bonnie Hunter post about her new vintage acquisitions. I personally don't think I'd be interested in a one hour lecture, but I would like opinions on the idea. Do you think this would be a good idea?

Thanks.

How many other members have and use vintage machines? I'm sure there are FW users. Personally, I go to almost every get together or other gathering for vintage machines I can find time for. I bet there are those who would really enjoy this.

Cari

I would enjoy that lecture, if the speaker is knowledgeable.

I agree, if the speaker is knowledgeable it would be worth attending. It also might make some people interested in the old machines that had not been before (if that makes sense). I really like my old machines but often don't know much about them because they can be so different (like the direction the hand wheel turns) unlike today's machines that are all basically the same.

I would only do it if the guild has a lot of members that are into it. Me personally am not into vintage machines. I think it is only something one would enjoy only if they had interest

I probably would not be that interested, and especially if the speaker did not have machines to show which would likely be hard for that person to bring. Maybe a good speaker would be on machine maintenance??

I like listening to talks by people who are really interested in their topic. I don't get bored or turned off, even if the topic isn't my cup of tea, as I appreciate the speaker's enthusiasm, and like hearing about new things. It's only an hour.

That being said, I do like vintage and antique machines, and would probably enjoy it more if there were pictures or sample machines to look at.

Your guild won't be able to to come up with a slate of speakers that will please every member every time. I think it's a good idea to offer a couple talks that aren't directly quilting related; it keeps it fresh.

Nope I wouldn't attend a meeting with that topic. Just not interested and time is valuable. My husband and oldest son would enjoy the topic. I could see them attending then going and buying old machines to fix them.

I would enjoy it if perhaps the speaker could also show quilts made on the vintage machines... Otherwise I think I would be bored with the topic.

This is so very true...you can't please all the people all the time. And no matter what the topic, if the speaker isn't engaging no one will enjoy it.

Bungalow, quilts made on vintage machines look just like any other quilt made by machine :)
And quilters started quilting by machine as soon as they got them. I've seen many quilts from the 1800's machine quilted.

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!

Yes...and have!
sandy

I would enjoy it especially if they included hints on care and maintainance of the machines. How many members of your guild use vintage machines for their quilting?

I personally would love a speaker on vintage machines. Not everyone is going to be into every topic. For instance, I could care less about machine embroidery although it seems to be all the rage right now. I would pass on a machine embroidery talk. I don't think you are going to find one topic that will appeal to everyone, so why not mix it up? If, say, half of your members were interested, I'd go for it.

I agree... they look the same. In fact, there is a thread on quilts made on vintage machines here on the board. Take a look. They look like any other quilts:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...s-t134918.html

Sometime last year I brought a Singer single thread embroidery attachment to a guild meeting and passed it around with some small pieces of paper and a piggy bank type can. I challenged them to a "gizmo guess" of the attachment. Most people took a shot at it and tried for the small prize.

The result of that was that the program leader asked me a week ago to do a program on "vintage attachments" sometime during 2017. I told her that I didn't know enough about them and that the interest might be quite limited. I did, however, say that I would do a program on Featherweights, since there are some members who have them.

I don't know how well it will go over, but I plan to have FW machines set up from the various eras, and at least one where people can try it out during the break and after the program. I think there are many people who have heard people talk about FW's, have seen them, and might like the experience of actually sewing on one.

Our guild has a variety of programs, and people not interested in the topic leave after the business meeting, show and tell, and the social break. I would say that 75% stay for the program, but it is not the same 75% each time.

I would definitely go. I love anything vintage, so vintage sewing machines have always been interesting to me. I don't own any (yet!) but my DH has promised me a treadle when we get a bigger house. :)

I'm in education so I might look at it a little differently, but I think it's valuable to have an understanding of others' related interests within a group one chooses to be a part of that connects to the common interest of the group, which is quilting. I don't collect or use vintage machines, but I would want to have a basic understanding to be able to ask intelligent questions of my fellow guild members who do.

I think it would be a good thing to offer. As noted by others, not every speaker is going to be interesting to every member every time.
I find that I try to go to the speaker portion with an open mind. I've had ones I thought would be interesting that weren't and others that I went only "because" and I found them fascinating.
You never know what will appeal, and if the speaker is good at presenting to a varied audience, they will find a path that has some appeal, at least part of the time, to everyone.

That's some great ideas, KalamaQuilts!! And you're right, the vintage machines ARE addictive!! I KNOW that if my guild had a "sew in" with a knowledgeable speaker teaching about the care, maintenance and perhaps even restoration of the vintage machines, I would be impatiently waiting at the door before the meeting even started!!

For the OP, perhaps even a discussion about the vintage TOY machines? Now THAT'S an IMMEDIATE addiction (ask me how I know!!)

I agree wholeheartedly. The few members who may not be interested could opt out or if you want to keep attendance up, you could offer a door prize for attending.

I am in the "mildly interested" category. If the speaker is good, I'd certainly learn something and that would make it worthwhile.

I did this for my quilt guild a couple of years ago and they seemed to enjoy it. After a brief slide show on the history of the sewing machine and introducing the vintage machines we displayed, we let everyone "play" with the vintage machines we brought in. We put a stack of scrap fabric by each machine and made sure each was threaded properly so they could stitch away. The machines that drew most attention were a treadle machine (some of the younger members had never had a chance to sew on a treadle), a hand crank machine, and, of course, the Featherweight. The ladies shared a lot of memories of their ancestor's machines and the machines they learned to sew on as a child. Some of the ladies were comparing the quality of the stitches of each machine, etc. One younger member even said she could tell the stitches on the vintage machines were straighter than those on her modern machine. She said she always wondered why people would say the Featherweight made such a nice, straight stitch and she was excited to actually see what that meant. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

I think it would be interesting, even though I don't collect them. I agree that if the speaker is interested in their topic, then the audience usually gets involved in the talk. And pictures and real machines will help.
Another idea is a physiotherapist (as long as a quilters explains to them all the movements and habits of quilters!)

A sewing machine rep came to a guild I belonged to and people were bored. I wasn't there. Not everyone likes vintage machines.

I would love to hear someone who knows what they are talking about, when it comes to vintage sewing machines.
But then again, I love sewing on vintage machines.

I would be interested in hear about them.

I wholeheartedly agree with ...Jennifer 23. If large pics of the machines were available for comparison but yet one or two sm heads there...it sure can be interesting

Kathleen

My sister took a class from a guy who worked on vintage machines (any machine without a computer chip) and was an expert on Featherweights in particular. He spoke at their guild meeting and briefly talked about maintenance of Featherweights. She said the class was excellent and he showed students how to take apart the machine and clean and oil it and to troubleshoot. A lot of speakers know the history of vintage machines and how to deal with their quirks. Mayabe3 it would be a change from regular speakers your guild has.

Thanks everyone.

I would think a "sewing machine rep" is far different than a "vintage machine technician". To me, a "rep" is going to try to sell me a modern machine. No thank you!
A vintage machine technician is a far different creature than a "rep".

With the older machines, there are certain basic principles that apply to ALL non-computerized machines. If you have an older, "non-computerized" machine, these basics are well-worth knowing and understanding how to apply to maintaining your vintage machine's efficiency.

I would have no problem attending a seminar where the technician discusses and demonstrates techniques to maintain/fix the vintage machine. What I would have issue with (and I hear it on boards all the time) is the intentional tearing down (insulting) of newer machines...they are too plastic, won't last, have to be taken in to be services, and on and on). It is like an us against them mentality that I don't appreciate at all. Have left forums because of that attitude. Not everyone wants a vintage and is perfectly happy with their "modern" machines.

So if the technician stays neutral, it could be a very helpful seminar. Otherwise, not at all.

My comment in no way was intended to slam newer machines. I simply meant that with non-computerized machines, there are certain "physical characteristics" that are basic to the design of sewing machines in general, especially those that are not integrated with computers. Once you add a computer to the mix, each manufacturer will have their own unique "code" to do different steps, whereas a machine that (for example) uses the cams to create specialty stitches, that is a physical device that can be replicated (if you have the tools and the know-how).

The same could be said for older cars, tractors, etc. Anything mechanical that does not have a computer "simulating" gears, etc., will have certain basic "truths" that apply to the machine.

I generally don't denigrate anything with computers, simply because I've worked in the IT field for 25+ years.

Just like anything else, computers have Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde personalities. There are pro's and con's on both sides of having something (car, sewing machine, appliances, etc.) integrated with computer chips. Personally, I do NOT want to have the "latest and greatest" until it's been on the market for at least a year (if not two), because when you add a computer to the mix, you are going to have BUGS. That's not a slam, it's a fact of life when you're dealing with computers and computer programmers.

Like I said, I've done IT for 25+ years, and done pretty much everything - hardware, software, networking, etc.,etc. - so I know what I'm talking about.

Leta, I must have accidentally replied to your comment instead of replying to the original post. My comment was meant for the original poster.