Okay, Charlee, here is my posting to the Gold Country TOGA for you to read:
I had another fun filled day learning how to fix machines and set needles, thanks to Cathy playing with my machines!
Cathy thank you for teaching me that clever way of adjusting the needle height for a 15x1 needle used in a machine that should really have a 20x1 needle.
I made some exchange blocks with my Singer 15BG168 that was made in Taiwan and now has that funny repo handcrank with the Chinese characters saying made in China. Cathy did a quick fix on the tension spring on that machine.
Purchased some fabric with camping theme, daisies, and a batik for another project. The Cloth and quilts has beautiful fabrics and gorgeous quilts hanging on the store walls for display.
I want to thank Cloth and Quilts for opening they doors, hearts and hands, to our small group; the two dishes in the Crockpots were yummy.
I had fun drooling over the beautiful machines at the store. I even showed off the Two Spools in the beautiful cabinet twice. :)
For me the highlight of the day was the raffle and enjoying the elderly gentleman (86 yrs old) that walked away with the 5 machines heads. He looked so happy to have some machines to studied and tinker with.
And here he had just come in morning to pick up a featherweight, but came back later in the day to see all our machines and chat with us.
He told me that at age 81, he pieced 81 quilt tops with his old Kenmore. He went home with a couple of machines older than his Kenmore yesterday- cute old soul.
For those that were unable to make the gathering, I missed your company.

I don't do pictures since my one mutant gene gets in my way of taking pretty pictures; I have essential tremors.
Seriously, essential tremors is having a mutant gene, a 50% chance of inheriting that gene, which I inherited (I get to thank my dad for that). Sometimes it takes me numerous shots to take a photo that isn't blurred for my post here on the board. So, that is why I don't do pictures. Sorry that I don't have any to share with all.

Nancy, Hitachi makes rice cookers. Maybe Hitachi figured they could make more money making rice cookers than sewing machines since Brother already had the sewing machine market. Hitachi does have many divisions, don't know which division would have been responsible for the sewing machine.

They have cameras now that will adjust for movement...AND there's nothing saying you can't hand the camera off and be IN the photo!!

Oh my....I can tell that I'm going to have to bring my camera to a TOGA!!! :D :D :D

Thanks for the reports!! I'm gonna make it there someday...I am....I am....I am!!!!!! :)

For the individual looking for Lostn51 and the individual who seems to think he is purposely not returning machines, this quote was taken from his last post on the board. He has some serious health problems, and has completed things as able. But he probably not available to help us now.

"Okay I am dropping in for a second to let everyone know that I will be finished with all of your machines by next week. ... I will try to send out emails and PM's when they go out to give you a heads up but I am just glad to be finished finally.

Billy"

Sar73, did you post the serial number on your machine, so we can help you find a manual?

It looks like the TOGA was fun! (I wish there was one in my area. I can't see traveling from the midwest to the coast when the cost of gas is rising so fast, and my DH doesn't see the value in making the trip.) Someday, I'd like to get to one, also. Thanks for sharing the happenings of the event!:thumbup:

You should start a TOGA where you live. See if you can use space at your local library and post on numerous boards that you will be holding a gathering. Also post in local newspaper and at library. I'm sure you should get a couple of folks to show.

The TOGAs are great for meeting others, share info on machines, and admire other folks machines/treadle projects as well as quilt projects.

If you don't want to call it a TOGA, since that refers more to treadle, then call it Vintage Machine Gathering.

Maybe more folks with machines that are vintage, but not treadled machines will show for the event. It doesn't matter if it is a treadle machine or a vintage machine; it's just about educating the public that the old machines can still be used for sewing, be it clothes or quilts.

Yeah, my son has told me that too about the cameras. I'm going to have to check into purchasing one.
Why I don't hand a camera over to someone else is because of this poor excuse. It never fails for me, someone always comes up to me asking me if I wouldn't mind taking a picture of them at whatever spot. I then have to tell them if they want the picture to turn out they should get someone else to take the picture. I always get a funny, weird look at that point which then I explain why. Most of the time after all of the explanation, I still get a weird look from them. So, because of my experience with those situations, I never ask others to take a picture for me in fear of making someone uncomfortable (like it does me). I need to get over that one, and just learn to ask. :)

She is the best. Always there to go that extra mile for you.

Try using a small tripod and your camera timer, then everyone can be in the picture. I always carry mine with my camera case for that very reason. I had realized that I am in few pics, because I usually take them, so that was my solution.

Now that's an excellent idea! :thumbup: Okay, I now have no excuse!