Invention: Pinkers

This week was Inventions & Inventors week at GCVM. Today, I demonstrated the pinking machines. This post is going to be more of a reflection on how it went.

To be completely honest, I find demonstrating the pinking machines to be difficult. The come in late in my interest timeline and hit their heyday later. This means I don’t have clothes that match the dating of my easiest to demonstrate machines.

So, I already feel disconnected when I try to search for ways to connect guests with the machines. So far, I am working with three concepts:

What is it?
What does it do?
How does it work?

For “What is it?” the hopeful connection is a memory of or usebof pinking scissors/shears. I find only a portion of people have a visual memory of pinking scissors/shears, while fewer have a strong enough memory to feel a connection. Those that do immediately connect the concept with stopping fraying.

Next is “What does it do?” While “make trim” was the initial goal, “cuts” was about as far as most guests you and old got. This was totally my fault. I assumed a based of knowledge/experience. With modern everyday fashion, people don’t have much experience with trims. Formal attire doesn’t even use trim much. Without a personal reference, the connection isn’t going to happen. While I did have samples of pinked silk gathered and pleated in different ways, I should have had a couple finished examples. At the very least, I should have had additional dolls showing more examples in miniature.

I found I had more constructive conversations about “How does it work” compared to the others. Discussing the die and anvil pressure verses sharpness prompted more of a physical response, spontaneous nodding, then other conversations.

Beyond these components that I am reflecting on, there were a few other things from the day that stand out:

It turns out the Gem and Clean Cut machines do not fit on the table. I had to use the bench, which is too light to turn the handle on.
Early in the day, one of the kids in a camp group asked if he could call me auntie. I said that would be okay with me. He and his group continued to call me Auntie. This was a first.
I had another camper kid who was very freaked out my the doll I brought. It turns out he had watched that newer horror movie with a doll in it. He was 10 or 11.
Later midday, the doll focus changed. I had three different groups of kids I insist I look like the doll. This was sweet.