Hello all -

I was previewing estate sale links this week and found a very bad picture that I could just make out was a FW. I took an hour off before work yesterday to be at the sale early. When I got there they were handing out numbers and I was number 33. I was not encouraged, but thought maybe since the picture was so bad noone would realize what it was. I waited in line with # 32, who buys and sells, and #38, who is a "recreational" estate sale attender. I never told them what I was looking for, but the dealer did share what he wanted (he wasn't interested in the machine).

Before they opened the house up, they put all the jewelry and sterling out in the front yard on tables, and opened the basement which contained all the tools and a brand new washer and dryer. Several people got what they came for from those mini-sales and left. When they opened the house they said they would let in #s 1 - 25, but since several had left they let in through 40.

I found the machine in the LR and grabbed it, and right after me the lady who had #38 put her hands on it and said it was hers. Luckily, a worker was right next to that table and told us that I had it first. After talking to her all morning, it turns out we were both there for that one item. I thought then that it might be more than I was willing to spend since it had no case or attachments, so I asked the price. When she told me it was $20, I said I would definitely want it.

I felt bad for the lady, but I did find it first, and I got there earlier in the morning to get in first. I hope she finds a good deal like this.

Now I'm going to have to clean it up. We checked the electrical last night and when we saw it was fine we plugged it in. It runs, but it makes some noise, so I'm sure it needs lubrication. I will want to get it all dolled up before I start putting the oil to it, though. I will eventually also want to get a 1/4" seam guide, case, and maybe some attachments.

I'm off to look for the cleaning tutorial now. Thanks for looking.

Darren

Wow, GREAT find!!! :thumbup:

Lucky, lucky you! :D

Stories like this just floor me. Someone puts her hands on an item in my possession and declares it's hers? I am just so shocked by some people and their audacity.

Candace -

It does sound shocking now, but when you've gotten up at 5:30 to be somewhere at 7:15 and waited for an hour and 15 minutes to get in the house for one particular item you can imagine how "enthusiastic" you would be. I might have done the same thing, who knows? Like I said, I do feel bad for her, but if she's looking, she will eventually find herself a deal.

Darren

Great find! Enjoyed reading your story and thanks for sharing.

Lucky you, I am sure she will clean up real nice.

Awesome find - I'm in the market and have been traveling Estate Sales maybe some day??? :-) Enjoy your new baby bunches! :-)

Wow, what a great find for you. Imagine a FW for $20. This machine was meant for you. :-)

What a beautiful find :D:D:D

Good for you!!

Holy Crap!! You got a Centennial Featherweight for 20.00!!! You are my hero! It needs some TLC, but should clean up just fine. Excellent score!

Lucky you! I am hoping that with a little TLC your sweet machine will look and run "like butter"

Congratulations! WOW! What a story and what a deal. The lady who wanted it too will eventually find one of her own in time.

Congratulations! I love the "gold dust" comment.

What a find. She is going to be a beautiful machine when she is all cleaned up.

Way to score!!! So have you got a name for it yet? These are truly awesome little work horses. :thumbup:

WOW - $20.00 !!!! What a great find. Enjoy

Looks like it's a centennial model which makes it a little more unusual... Good find!

CONGRATS AND WELCOME TO THE fw CLUB!!

Those folks selling that didn't know what they had. Congrats to you on a great find.

Congratulations on your find. I love my featherweight!

Holy moly! Good for you!
Maureen

What would one look for to determine that a machine is for sure a featherweight? I know they are always Singers and often come in a small case --- anything else?

Congratulations!!! I just bought one from ebay. It is in great condition with all of the gold scrolling in tack. Not too many people was bidding on it since it was coming from the UK and shipping was high. I got it for a little under 300 and was excited. It has the case w/key and alot of attachments; including a ruffler with the instructions. It is a 1952. I have to go to ebay and get a manual and I"m going to look and see if they still have the books up there for taking care of the featherweights. You might want to look there for your manual and they have lots of attachments and pieces. Have fun with yours.

A featherweight only weighs between 8 and 11 pounds. Here is a web site that has to do with them even being able to date them.
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/...es/dating.html

lucky you!!
enjoy

Great find, enjoy cleaning her up and then sewing with her.

lucky you!

Great find! You ought to name her "33".

What a great find. I hope some day to find one, like U did

Congrats...great find. I found one in a junk store once pd $75 for it. I already had my mother's machine so I didn't need another for me...I took it to a sewing machine repar shop to have it checked out, the man wanted to buy it frome for $200. I noticed that he had others in his shop for over $500. He tuned it all up for me, and I put it on Ebay, sold it to a lady in Oregon..for $545. I wish I had kept it now. It would be nice to have one for each daughter. I also have the original wooden card table with cutout that was my mother's, and the recipt from when my dad bought it for her in 1954.

It's situations like this that reveal what a person is really like...

that machine is their centruy one. made in 51 and to get one like that for 20 dollars is the bargin of the year.

have a wonderful time with your new baby

you should get some TR-3 resin glaze to clean and shine your machine. It doesn't tarnish the decals like some cleaners do. You can find it at
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Magic-TR-...ata/B000BOKO4W
You'll think you have a new machine after using that. To clean the chrome areas a product called Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish.

According to a list I found on this site:
http://www.planetpatchwork.com/fweight.htm
Your machine machine was made in 1951 in the US..

Good for you, congratulations. I know you will definitely enjoy it. Don't people like the lady who tried to grab it away from you just make you furious. I have seen so many people like that, and just because it is something they want also they think it is going to be theirs. This happened to me once on Christmas Eve with a tree at Wal Mart. I had not planned to purchase this tree, because of the price but had wanted to prior to this night. My son and I walked into the store for something else., and there it was still decorated, plus 5 sets of lights, 75% off. It was next to the service desk. I knew one of the ladies at the desk and told here I wanted it, and offered to pay her then, she said no, she started making a sold sign right then. Just as the clerk was taking the sign to put on the tree, a lady walked in and said I want that tree, the clerk told her it was sold, and she said I don't care I want it anyway. I was still at the counter. I ask the clerk if I needed to go ahead and pay for it again, and she said no I will stay right here and make sure you get it, I had taught two of her children in 1st grade. Anyway I was the lucky one with the tree, and have enjoyed it for many years. Sorry this doesn't have a thing to do with quilting.

Great find, I never heard of giving out numbers before for estate sale, maybe they should try that here in Oklahoma, all you do here is stand in line and if you want to be the first to get inside be here early! Giving out numbers really good ideal!

I would love a FW but don't see one in my future. I did watch a tutoral the other day and they were sewing on a FW. I called my husband into the room and showed him the machine and told him if he ever saw one to let me know. He goes to pawn shops once in a while and I was thinking maybe one might show up there sometime.

You done good child! Congrats. :thumbup: