Would you pay $400 for a featherweight, in good condition (so it's advertised)? The very first machine I bought was a 15 year old White, and I used it for 35 years. At the end it just wouldn't do the job - bobbin continually got messed up, had to pull the fabric through, etc. I'm a little leary of older machines. There seem to be a lot of used Kenmores. Are they worth anything?

Nope

Seems kinda high to me.

Nope I don't see the appeal. I borrowed a friends (she collects so has several) for a few months when my "take to class machine" broke. It was nice and lightweight to tote back and forth but if I drop or slam on the brakes or etc. I'm out $300+ for a 50-60 year old machine. I think the old singers and kenmores sew just as well and I'll tote my $49 old (I'm sorry vintage) viking to classes. Little heavier but it's in a rolling bag I can live better if it breaks.

Good points. I'm considering finding an older and more portable machine that I can take to Guild. My Bernina is SOOOOO heavy to tote around.

No way, there are much better deals to be had out there.

Nope! Way to much even in excellant condition.

I found one the other day that is a 1954 that still looks like it did the day it came off the assembly line plus the case was immaculate and did not have an odor. So far it is missing all the attachments and the manual, but even if they were all there I would not even consider this amount. They want $525 for it. Yep, that's right! I told him his price was way too high and if he came down to $225 I would buy it.
He went into this speal about how the decals could not be duplicated or the paint job ever be as nice as the factory. We had a nice chat about repainting, decals are still available, etc. I enlightened this antique dealer aboput FW's.
Another one in town is not nearly in as good a shape and priced at $550. So, NO I would not.

try shopgoodwill.com. There are a couple there with $150 bids ending in the next day or 2.

No.

Thanks :)

No, way over priced!

I have 3 featherweights - I paid $325.00 for my first one and the other 2 were around $200.00. But the lowest priced one I had to replace the foot pedal & cord (that is one piece) because the original owner had lost it, but everything else was there.

It all depends on what you want to do with it. They are very reliable, very portable and cute. You won't find a lighter vintage machine. The stitches are limited. Some do not do a reverse stitch, not sure when they introduced it.

For some odd reason they are very addictive. Don't know why, maybe it is like the beanie baby craze, or maybe because they have some hypnotic sound when you sew on them. Not sure what it is, but it does appear you can't own just one.

The price for the featherweight seems high. As for Kenmores, I bought mine new in the late 70s and it has sewn shirts, jeans, drapes, sofa covers, you name it. It still sews great. The older Kenmores were good, solid machines.

that is too much for now they used to go for that but not for several years

OK. That setttles it. Not getting it. Thanks.

no way, you'll find one for less

Yes, if it had all the accessories and the book. If the decals and case were in good condition. If it had a musty antique odor..not a smoker or cat pissy smell. Yes, I would if I saw it and inspected it in person. Get the serial number and find out it's birthday.
If cost is a concern, then may I recommend Singer 4166 66 Stitch from AllBrands.com to take in your motor home or to class. The stitches are pleasantly, surprisingly beautiful and it is light. Not a big out of pocket investment, a computer machine light and practical. The small Janomes are all wonderful.
I do have a $425.00 1946 Featherweight which I adore and it sews beautifully. It was love at first sight! I had to have it! I didn't even question. It is like owning a classic antique car. It is a privilege and special. I have owned a Viking 1100 which I wore out, a Morse and Kenmores.... but I am a die hard Janome fan. About 25 years ago my friend and I decided to take quilting classes. We went to the big city Sears and bought their $99 on sale Kenmore. We were thrilled until we got to the class. There were just some things our machines would not do. Like drop the feed dogs or do an appliqué stitch. Plus women actually were machine snobs. We were definitely treated like low class encroachers. (the instructor was patient and nice though)I thought they must have paid $500.00 for their machines! Ha! More like $1500 to $3500..... Now I understand the pride and appreciation of those who are fortunate to own a lovely Featherweight or top of your budget machine of quality. I never take my expensive machine out of my sewing room.
All that said, If that featherweight has a scroll face plate, has all the bells and whistles, and smells like an antique and not an ashtray or litter box..consider it. $400 can buy a nice light Janome. Pass on the old Kenmores. You may want to look for a nice Singer 66 or Singer 301. They are the berries (..but heavy.) and you may be able to get it in a nice wooden cabinet and stool. Good luck!

Thanks. A BUNCH of useful info :)

The prices are starting to come back down to earth on Featherweights. They are nice to have as a portable to take with you, but they aren't all that. Mine sews well but not as fast as I'd like, and the throat space is only big enough to piece, not quilt. There are other great vintage Singers you could get for about $50, including nice cabinet, which can do a whole lot more.

Featherweights are cute and WAY hyped, which is why the price is so much more than other Singers of the same time period.

Just keep looking...

Nice treadle! Your baby?

Thanks... yes, my favorite of my vintage machines. :mrgreen:

I'd love to see if I could get the old white to work. Does it have any plastic parts? If no plastic parts I bet we can get it to work. send a pm

I have used my Featherweight for over a year on a daily basis. I have done FMQ on smaller projects and have found they seldom break. It has such a nice stitch and is very easily taken back and forth to classes and retreats. However $400 is a lot higher than I would pay for one. The one I use is a 1950 and I paid $157 on E-Bay with the case and accessories. It is in nice shape. Just look around and check Craigs List also.

A little pricey to me.

I paid $300 for a 221- Featherweight

I would not pay more than $200.

That is high for today's prices. Featherweights make a great stitch and are very easy to take to classes but they only do a straight stitch! So many classes today incorporate different stitches I found it better to purchase a small Baby Lock or Janome which only weigh about 12#. Depending on what model you get you have a variety of stitches available. All this for about the same amount of money and they are brand new...Just my opinion....

Unless it had a lot of extras no! It would have to be in REALLY good condition. I have paid only that for one and it was #1900 something of the very first run of featherweights in 1933. :-D

If your White was pre 1960's it probably is metal parts, best way to tell is take the bottom off or take it to a shop to have it evaluated, if it has plastic gears forget it. :-D

Too high a price. Really good ones can be found for as little as $125.

It's long gone.

There is a very nice old Singer machine that is still light weight and I have done all my FMQ on it as well. It is still very affordable and you should be able to find one locally on craigslist. It is the 301 or 301A and it is billed as the bigger sister to the Featherweight. It is light enough to take to classes as well. It is not as sought after as the Featherweight but it is an excellent machine. I have always been able to do all the basic maintenance on it myself and it is a gear driven rather than belt driven machine which means that it will sew through thicker layers than the Featherweight. If you find a machine without the users manual they are available to download online free of charge. I see them regularly for about $50.00 and have picked them up for my kids to have one each. I personally have more machines than I can say grace over but love the old ones. I wouldn't buy any Singer dated after 1965 as the quality went to pieces after that. Ann in TN

Thanks, Ann. I'll take a peak around.

Yep, that is too high. Some of the dealers are just cashing in on the FW, because we like them. The old supply and demand thing. I saw one posted for $600! Give me a break, the dude must have thought I was stupid. It was not really clean, it was in good shape but it was just a 221. I also saw another singer portable being advertised as a FW. I hope no one falls for some of their tactics. I did pay $250 for a really nice Centennial 1951 FW....:-))

That price is high if it is for a 221. If it is for a 222 (freearm version), then that's a good price.

I would say that is too much. I bought one off of eBay for 100.00. Had it cleaned etc. for 45.00. Sews great, take it too class etc. The only thing is that I like to finish a quilt on the machine I start on....so I use this one at home sometimes too. I really love my Janome PQ Quilter but it is way to heavy to carry around. I love Kenmore also and have had good service from mine...Good luck in what you do..

$400 is a little pricey for a FW - if that's what you're looking for (and can easily afford), then go for it, but there are still some bargains out there. If you do go for it, I'd make darned sure it was pristine and had lots of accessories, good wiring, near perfect carrying case.

Check eBay. That $400 price is high.

NO!

I know someone in my town that refurbishes featherweight sewing machines and does an excellent job. If you want I can send info and maybe they can help. You can email me at:
[email protected]