Just wanted to say that my Fritz looks different. Fritz doesn't have the horizontal spool holder nor the thingy next to the horizontal spool. Fritz's name was suggested by someone on this thread whose name escape now and probably will forever.

I don't know if the Bernina 730 is as green as the 117, but is a shade of green. :)
My DD's first good machine was a lovely Bernina 730 that I bought her for her 16th birthday. She was thrilled that she finally had her very own Bernina, she learned to sew on my 1031. Poor girl she got spoiled with using a great machine.
She has since sold it and bought a 930.

Melinda, that is a Beautiful!! machine, love the color!

Not unless I get there first!:p (I actually have seen those two guys and their machines. One knows what he he is doing, and one does not. PM me if you want my opinion!)

Thank yall for the compliments on Miriam, the Yellow Brother. She cleaned up pretty, and makes a wonderful stitch. She is smooth and you can hardly hear her run. I am glad Miriam, the lady, posted pics of it when she unloaded her van, and was good enough to sell it to me. She packed it in bubble wrap, in a box, then in another box with styrofoam and cardboard spacers. It shipped great. Kudos to her for that.

Jan- you know what a parade is without an audience? A bunch of marching bands, playing for no one, for no reason! Not everyone is chatty. Nothing wrong with being quiet...not that I can do it, but someone's got to!:o

I think that someone who values what they learn here is a positive influence. But, if you ever happen to have an opinion, just add right in. Laura

I was the person that suggested the name!:)

[QUOTE=miriam;5252386]It looks like someone got their panties in a knot about lurkers...

Naah, Miriam, my panties are fine. Just wanted to offer a perspective from my point of view. Glad to know I'm hanging out with your sister. I think I'm in pretty good company. VBG

[QUOTE=jpete523;5252687]Some of us are chatty and others not, just the nature of a person. It's nice to hear from the lurkers. A thanks or a sharing of a favorite machine, or the latest quilt made from vintage machine is always nice. Sometimes a fresh breathe, new look, or different perspective is needed and welcomed!

i tried going back through the thread to understand the start of this conversation. while i feel i got the gist of it some of the sentiment escapes me. my observation of this thread has been that there is a small core group of members who continually post to the thread in almost daily conversation, there are some who drop in and out with comments, there are some who pop in with questions about their newly acquired vintage machines and some who peruse to learn and may occasionally ask questions. i am not sure what even classifies a 'lurker'.

while i do not consider myself a vintage machine collector (though i own 4 now), i do know that i benefit when i see information or comments posted on this thread pertaining to the machines that i own. i don't always comment but i make notes and sometimes ask questions. i looked at the opportunity to be able to ask questions of those who knew these machines better than i as a great resource never thinking that anyone would think they were being taken advantage of or of myself as a lazy lurker. there have been several times my just reading this thread has given me insight.

i know that i will never be a 'true' vintage machine collector, i will never own a treadle or look for complex or specific colored or special models (i.e. crinkled, hand cranked, etc) of vintage machines nor do i plan to own a whole lot of them or use them for home decor. it's outside my realm of expertise. so when such things are being discussed on this thread, i can't really contribute. and i know for sure i will never make my own lingerie.:D

i will be the person who reads this thread and occasionally ask questions. i have a singer 128 with a vibrating shuttle bobbin that i am sure when i get started with this machine i will have questions. and it wont be out of lack of desire to research that i will ask (because i will do my research) but because i genuinely will need help. i do hope that there are some who frequent this thread who don't mind answering the questions or sharing their expertise. i respect overall that sharing and how its done is a personal thing for some.

now if this thread was about shoes, i know that i could contribute to the conversation and would contribute often.:D

mary