Index

Featuring information about Dick Wightman and his activities, including: antique sewing machines, quilting, traditional archery and bow building, Howard Hill bows, kites, sailing, model railroading, and entertainment.

Welcome to my home page. I am a retired performer and am still commonly called Captain Dick, the name I and my ventriloquist figure friends performed under for roughly 30 years. I still do an occasional show, but I spend most of my time involved with the collection and restoratioin of antique seing machines and traditioinal archery. I am web master for Treadle On, the antique sewing machine collector and users site, and for the Howard Hill Longbowmen, a group devoted to the use of Howard Hill and other traditional straight longbows. These two sites are very specialized and I try to keep my personal activity material here. If you are interested in antique sewing machines or traditional longbow archery, here are links to the other sites:

It has been said that my hobby is hobbies, so there is a lot of stuff here. A few folks still remember me as a performer, and I do still perform occasionally, but most of the material here concerns my hobbies.

This site is forever under construction as I re-format and reconstruct old pages, and create new ones to add based on new activities.

... quilting on vintage treadle sewing machine.

Dick With Barney and Fred

Performing circa 1990-1995

This was our borchure promo photo.

... flying large fluted sled kite. In optimum conditions, this kite can lift you off the ground.

... sailing on "Isle of Wight" circa 1980. We lived on and cruised this boat for ten years.

... with vintage York longbow.

... with Hill style longbow I built and a very good 50 yard plus shot on this moose target.

Old Phartt's Archery - A few years ago, I became very active in traditional archery. Age and health problems dictated that I can now shoot only light draw weight bows. Eventually, this led to my learning to build traditional longbows, specializing in bows of light weight. This has become a passion for me. I try to promote the use of light bows to prolong the shooting life of archers. I call my shop Old Phartt's Archery, and this link will take you to a separate web site covering all of my shooting and bow building activities.

Antique Sewing Machines - A page where I show some of the more interesting machines I get from time to time.

Bulletin Board - A convenient spot to post announcements and pictures that I want to share with interested parties. Subject to frequent change.

Kites - I have been very active in kite making and design, specializing in large, heavy lifting kites suitable for scientific instrument and camera packs. Here are some of my better known ones

Model Railroading - I've been active in model railroading for many years and have built a number of layouts. I am currently just starting a new one. Pictures will appear here as construction is accomplished. Meantime, you can check out the Ballard Terminal Railroad, the real shortline I model, from this link, which will take you to the main railroading page, which discusses my past railroading, and provides a link tocurrent Ballard Southern Railroad projects.

Performing - Pictures from my past performing days, as "Captain Dick" and "Doc" Wightman's Music, Madness and Medicine Show"

Quilts - I am an active quilter. Here are some pictures of my favorite quilts

Sailing - This link will take you to a page covering some of my sailing history. I have been ashore for several years, but this page documents out boating experience.

Smoking a Pipe - Many people know I enjoy my pipe. While I don't advocate starting smoking, and would never advocate cigarettes, I do get questions about my pipes and especially (from new pipe smokers) about how to properly load a pipe and keep it burning comfortably. So, for those that want the information, here it is. If you don't want it, don't use the link.