Originally Posted by 4dogs
With these old machines, HOW can you know if its a feather weigh? I was looking on craigslist and just couldnt tell with the pictures of the older machines.......is there a good way to know?
A true old Featherweight is either a model 221 or 222, anything other than those is probably one of the later models. You can also take down the serial number and look it up online so you can see what date it was made.
The 301 is a heavier follow up to the featherweight. It's a great machine. People rave about the 201, 301, 401a and 500. All are considered by some to be the best singer ever made. If you can get any of these in good condition, I'd go for it.
BTW- If you decide to have it serviced after you buy it, keep a record of the serial number. I put my 401 in for a tune up and they either switched the machine or some of the parts because what I got back feels nothing like the lovely running machine I gave them.