Do you think it makes a difference if it's new or vintage re: Featherweight
 

I'm nearly completed restoring my featherweight which upon inspection needed work including a new motor and some finish repair/french polishing. My question is now regarding getting a case.

Do you think a "new" carrying case will due, or should I continue to search for a vintage case? The vintage cases are so darn expensive if you can get them on Ebay...

So...Would it make a difference to you?

Thanks for the help

I think that depends on you! Are you going to use the FW, like going to meetings or is it just for looks. If for looks than I would look for a vintage one. Me personally, it wouldn't matter.

Wouldn't matter to me, either. I guess if you are using it for yourself and you plan to move it about to sewing at other places I would get something "new" cause I'm not into the vintage stuff. Except for my (maybe vintage) FW which I totally love, BTW. Mine is in it's original case but would not mind if it had a different one, cause it's not about the case in my case. ha
Sandy

Many of the vintage featherweight cases stink and I mean literally. The original glues that were used break down over time and often harbour musty odours. I keep a bar of Irish Spring soap in my Featherweight case all of the time and it still has a bit of a smell if it sits unopened for too long. A new case especially one of the soft padded ones would be great for your machine and you would avoid the well used, scuffed banged up, broken lock smelly case.

I have two FWs and both cases smell so bad that I cannot use them. I would be hesitant to purchase a vintage one off of eBay for fear of getting one with an odor problem. I opted to purchase a padded FW case and am pleased with it.

A machine that is not original all the way through is not really a collectable. Featherweights are not rare in the least, having been made for a very long time in mass quantities. So for me, I'd get a reproduction case and use it.
Our original case did stink pretty bad. We've gotten most but not all of that odor out, but like Shelbie says when it stays closed for a long time it will still stink.

I'm not a collector but a user with a variety of machines.

Joe

I bought my Featherweights a Tutto case, I felt they deserved the best, (LOL) and both of their cases were really smelly!

I have seen sites that reburbish machines sell the cases for $40 or so....

Personally, to me, it wouldn't matter if it were new or old. I just can't stand smelly. Now that I think about it, I guess I'd prefer one of those new roller cases -- so much easier on my aging back!

I'm not a purist, so my FW has a new case. Like it better than an old, stinky one that someone tried to cover up the smell............

Wow!!!!

I didn't realize the old cases had such a problem. I'll strongly consider the "new" case for it. Thanks so much, pretty much 100% for the newer case...didn't expect that! I guess for resale at some time it wouldn't hurt the value too much. Thanks.

I would buy the new case...then you won't have to deal with the smell. I have both old and new in my collection.

I recommend getting a new case for everyday use and keeping your eyes open for an original case that might come your way eventually at a reasonable price. All 3 of the FW's I have owned came in their original cases, and none of them had any odors, so it is possible that you will find a good case if you are patient.

I was lucky my FW's case was in good shape and did not have a smell to it. Has anyone tried putting Bounce Dryer Sheets in the cases and shutting it up for a period of time. I have used them to take residual smells out of the plastic cappacino containers that I use in my Sewing Room.

I tried everything to get the smell out . . . before the kids made a tool box out of the case :-)

I lucked out with my ebay purchase of FW with case , all attachments, book and no stinky case (it does smell old, but that is to be expected). I have taken my machine out of the case and put it in a heavily padded roller case. It is easier for me to move around and keeps my original case pristine, if someday it needs to be sold! That day will be after I am no longer earthbound!! LOL

Depending on your budget, go for the convenience of a rolling type case if you're a traveling quilter; then keep your eye peeled for a good vintage case (for instance if you go to the 100 mile long yard sale annually here in TN); you then add the cost of your vacation to the price of the carrying case and realize that you are spending big bucks for a small trinket.....but at least you can smell it before you buy it and figure out if it is going to be worth your while to work on the smell. Newspapers and sunshine did the job on mine; I have four, but some of the locks are broken (can't be found anywhere, and I hold my case together with a bungee cord), the leather (sic) is scratched on all of them and some of them really look bad. But I keep my machines out all the time and show off with them when my quilting friends drop in for a sewing get together.....

Where can you buy new cases for vintage machines?

Well folks...I just nailed a vintage case, they state no smell, we'll see. I'm kinda happy that I was able to get it to match the machine.

New cases are on Amazon, Ebay, and most vintage sewing sites..just type in google featherweight case..

I would try Fabreeze. If you weren't afraid of damaging the lining, you could spray it directly on. Otherwise you might try spraying a paper towel with Fabreeze and closing it into the case for awhile. This stuff is awesome for removing odors from everything I've tried it on.

Try Irish Spring soap, in the box. You can also use Safeguard, as recommended by Fred, The FW repairman from Texas, who was at Paducah last spring. He was well worth the entire cost of admission, just hearing his wisdom concerning FWs. If you are in Paducah in April, be sure to look him up. He has lots of parts and books with him.

My case was stinky too, so I use a soft case for my featherweight. I think they priced it so low at the thrift shop because the case was stinky and the handle was broken. I got lucky that day - I got it for $27.00