I bought a new featherweight in 1954 right after college. When my mother came to visit me (she was also a seamstress) she made the comment, "You will never be able to sew a coat on that. Take it back." So I did, and I regretted that for ages. When I was getting ready to move to SC in 1999, I contacted a lady in Anderson, SC who was advertising FWs in Quilters Newsletter, so I went to see her. She had a whole garage full of FWs, and had them all listed by serial number and year of manufacture, so I asked for a 1954 one, and that's what I got. Incidentally she has gone out of business. I don't use it much except for taking to classes, etc. but I do love it.