Shelley M

I was lucky enough to find and buy my first Featherweight yesterday. She must've had a shady past because she has had her serial number filed off. We have tried rubbing it with paper and soft pencil but she will not give it up. My question is whether or not there is another way to find out the serial number or how I can even identify what model this might be. It was purchased with a case, and it has the silver scrollwork rather than the lines on the side plate by the thread guides. Can anyone tell me what model this is or where I can find further information? Thank you. (The SINGER book that came with it does not appear to be the right one, it is for a portable and not a Featherweight so it doesn't help much. Although it was interesting!)

Mrs. SewNSew

Congratulations on finding a FW! I have no idea on model numbers. I though it was simply a 221 and am not familiar with any other identifiers. The scroll plate is usually found on the older models, but that could have been changed from the striped plate easily enough is someone liked it better.

I have no idea on the serial number part. That is odd and I would suspect it was stolen at some point in time. Very odd!

Mariposa

Congrats on joining the family! You'll like her, once you get her cleaned up, etc. There are several knowledgeable folks on here that can help you with further info on your machine. Does she have a name yet--??

Shelley M

No name yet, we are just getting to know each other. Because of her questionable past and an attempt to hide her identity, Bonnie Parker or Ma Barker come first to mind. She sews like a champ and I can live without knowing her exact birth date, but would love to know what I have here.

tessagin

Your Featherweight is portable. You could try some playdoh or silly putty (anything that would help to make an impression) then dust it and show the reflection in the mirror. You may get a partial number that would help.

Shelley M

[ATTACH=CONFIG]522208[/ATTACH]​This is what I am showing on the bottom of the machine. I will try the playdoh, though. We did try to get an impression with paper and soft pencil.

WIChix

She obviously wants folks to think she is younger! Congrats.

Freaky_Quilts_Dragon

Whoa, the serial number hasn't been filed off, it's been "chipped" out. There are techniques to read a filed off serial number, but I don't know any for when the metal has been gouged out. Hmmm...

She is a lovely machine. Maybe she'd like to playfully stick with anonymity and go by Jane Doe.

iadhikari

Apparently there's another place to find the serial number, but I have no idea how to remove the arm of the machine. I'm not even quite sure what the arm is... anyway:
http://thefeatherweight221factory.com/page1.php
It's an interesting article, but I'm not sure how useful it is unless you know someone who knows how to remove the arm.
Good luck!
Ila

Shelley M

.
WOW, interesting. I would certainly be willing to check under the arm if someone could tell me what and where that is.