Rose_P

Yes, I definitely want to second (third, fourth) this!

If you are considering a vintage machine, all the more so. I love my Featherweight, but would caution anyone who does not know how to sew about possible pitfalls in buying any used machine - no matter how wonderful and popular the model might be. Many people have the idea that if the motor runs and the needle bar goes up and down it works, and this is just not necessarily so.

Also, I have seen a very early Featherweight in a local antique shop with a $750 price tag. I'm not an expert to know if that machine might possibly be special enough to merit that price, but I know I wouldn't be buying it. A lot of the people who sell old machines have no idea what is or isn't a reasonable price for one. You'd have to at least do a lot of research on eBay (already sold listings) to figure out what should come with it and what the going price should be. You might strike gold, but there's a good chance you could make a mistake. Your wife just might enjoy doing that research and hunting for her own treasured vintage machine.

Even the best machine on eBay or some other site could arrive damaged if the seller doesn't know enough or care enough to pack it properly, so you'd have to spend time reading through the feedback to see if other people have had any experiences with the seller's management of that aspect of the sale, and remember that packing up a china platter well wouldn't necessarily mean the person would understand what could happen to a sturdy little sewing machine in a big box.

You're a gem for wanting to please your wife with this gift. Remember it's the thought that counts - much more than a surprise, IMO!