Didn't want to go yard selling this a.m., just wasn't in the mood. But got to thinking it is a great day and I had my list from the local newspaper......so, headed out !

First place I stopped was a a house that advertised they had lived there 20 years and never had a yard sale, oh great, a lot of old stuff. Even though they said they had lived there was a while I already knew it was in a very nice older settled neighborhood by a large lake.

WOW ! First thing I saw was a Singer in a cabinet !......looked it over and it looked great, sticker price was $20 and I didn't dare to barter on this ! The cabinet was worth at least that much ! Lady said she used to teach in a local school and the students used it to sew simple things......and it worked the last time she tried. Couldn't wait to give her the $20 and get it in my car. This machine is vintage 1941 according to web.

She also had another Singer that was rusted and didn't look too great, plus the throatplate was missing, she was only asking $10...kicking myself I didn't buy it also !

NEXT, stopped in at another sale in a very upscale golf community.....nice stuff, nothing in particular. Was talking to the homeowner and was telling her how excited I was to get the Singer in a cabinet...she asked if I was interested in another machine she had one that had belonged to her mother, in a little black case and I could have it for $25 !

ABSOLUTELY, she went inside, brought out the most beautiful Singer I've ever seen......excellent condition, case is in excellent condition....WOW.

Not sure it is a true Featherweight but am checking it out. I did Google the serial number and it was made in October, 1950; just can't find what designates it as a true Featherweight.

In all seriousness I cried when I got back in the car with this machine; I was raised in a foster home and my foster mother made almost all of my clothes on an identical Singer; oh the memories that came flooding back !

I'll post photos as soon as I can figure our my digital camera, which is another story in itself !

I've got "her" on my sofa and can't take my eyes off her......now for a name.......

Oh how wonderful for you. I'm smiling from ear to ear!

Wow! What a great day for you! How about naming her after your mom? Enjoy your finds!

You really lucked out on those two deals! Good for you!

You are so lucky. I never find good things like that. Have fun with them both.

Does the end of the sewing area flip up? to the left of the needle. If so it is a featherweight, search on this sit and you will find pics of featherweights here. Blace and white ones. The bed is hinged and flips up.

Nice!! :)

Can't wait to see the photos! I love your special memories of a machine like the one you found! That makes them that much more special!

So now I'm tearing up again, her name will be Miss Jimmie ! Thanks !

You guys are so awesome and genuine and I certainly appreciate it !

Not necessarily, it could also be a 301 with a flip bed... ;)

I am so happy you found your treasures! Cant' wait to see the pictures!

..YES, it flips up ! Oh Wow...... I know that "featherweights" are light weight, I just am not a very good judge of weights and I don't have a scale, or other reasons !

So being the scientifically minded person I am, I just picked up the Singer in one hand and a 5# bag of flour in the other and it seems to weigh slightly more than the bag of flour !!!!!

I needed to find this machine today for so many reasons, and not reasons that I needed another machine to sew on !

Congrats on your new machines! Blessing were flowing your way today. Enjoy!

So how do i know if it is a 301 ?

On 2nd thought it really doesn't matter....it is beautiful and I'm going to try her out this afternoon on some Dresden blades I cut yesterday......

Like you measuring scale. :)

Wow! Terrific day for you!!! These are treasures for sure! :thumbup:

If it weighs a little more than a bag of flour, it must be a featherweight-besides-301s come in a suit-case, fws come in an open from the top black case. Congrats!

:thumbup:

Oh, so happy for you. What a wonderful day for you!

You can tell by the SN. What is it and I'll look for you.

What a wonderful day.

Serial # AJ890537 thank you !

Sounds like you found some good sales! Lucky you!!!

Well if must be a fW....it came in a black open from the top case, smells a little musty but I can certainly live with that !

thanks for your enthusiasm.....I never expected to find such a great machine at such a awesome price.. I did get a Singer Athena 1200 at a thrift shop not long ago for about $16.......it appears to work but I haven't tried it...think I'll sell ! or, maybe not...

Wonderful day!

For the mustiness in the case, I bought a set of Odoreaters shoe inserts with charcoal. After being shut up in the case for a couple of weeks, the musty smell was gone! Now I keep one in the case all the time, as it also serves to pad and protect the foot pedal from rubbing against the machine.

What a great find.

WOW I am so happy for you. You should go out a buy a lottery ticket now.

That SN was allocated on October 26, 1950.

http://www.singer-featherweight.com/...es/dating.html

YES!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

so it is REALLY a 221 featherweight....again my heart is filled with so much joy and my eyes with TEARS ! I sat down this afternoon, threaded her up and sewed all the blades to my Dresden plate I cut out yesterday...sitting there I was transformed back to being 8 years old and learning to sew....I'm 64 now so that has been a while. I found it somewhat amusing that I didn't have to refer to any written instructions to operate her.....like I have to do with I alternate between my Brother and my Bernette....

Thanks for checking and if you ever want to get rid of that precious black and white baby I'll take it !

Great job on your garage sale finds, why can't I find things like that in our area. I used to go out with my sis every Sat morning when I lived in OKC. Can't wait to see the pics of the machines!

Wow, you got some cool antique sewing machines

Congratulations!

We inherited her when MIL died. I did get her for her 11 years ago ad 4:55 pm. She was going to go back to the shelter and be euthanized at 5:00 pm if no one adopted her. She's really been a nice cat and I love her to pieces.

She has her very own personality. She thinks she's a dog. She comes when you call her and she begs at dinner time.

Figure out that camera and post pictures...we love to see great deals.

Wonderful, enjoy all. :thumbup:

My avatar pic is of a featherweight. One thing I know is the Featherweight is suppose to weigh 11 lbs. Can you get on a scale with it, then without it? Just a thought.

I recently read a post on here about naming machines after the owner and someone suggested going back to the estate sale to inquire about the owners name.
I recently bought a Singer 301A (very similar story to yours, didn't really want to go junkin', but forced myself) then found myself at a sale talking about sewing and was presented by the person having the sale with the Singer. It was not in the sale, as it held too much sentimental attachment to her, but I guess I past the test.
I had to leave it then and come back for it as it was in a cabinet and would not fit in my car. When I returned I was happy that I had most of the day to think about the purchase because I remembered to ask the girl what was her mother's name as I would like to name the machine after her. She told me Edna, through watering eyes. She was choked up.
My daughter and I were comparing it to my featherweight and I told her, This is sometimes called the Big Sister to the Featherweight. She then said, I know, instead of EDNA, lets call her Big Ed! So Big Ed it is!

How wonderful for you!!

Congratulations. Enjoy your new toys.

Tears come to my eyes when I read stories like this. Why can't it be me? Oh, I know why, first you have to hit the sales. I don't do that. Dry your eyes. It's hard to sew when your eyes are blurry. Good Finds!

What great finds. Will look forward to pictures.