sewbizgirl

Wow, they were expensive. I know the 201s were $185 and that was as much money as a car or a couple month's labor back then. I think the installment plan was implemented for the 201s. They have a potted motor and are gear driven, rather than belt driven. The big gear is a worm cut gear (one gear fits into another-- very strong) so they eventually got too expensive for Singer to build any more and production had to stop. They are still wonderful machines today. I have two of them.

GrannieAnnie

$50 was a load back then!

quiltwiz

I bought my first "white" one new in 1965 for $179

danece

the first featherweight I purchased is a 1952, when I opened the box with the attachments in it, there is was the original receipt, the price was $154.00 dollars, she put it on payments, and paid it off after 6 months people sure worked hard back then to pay for a machine :thumbup: :thumbup: :D

patdesign

Actually Singer was one of the first companies to insititute an installment plan and it was back in the late 1800's, it is what put them on the map so to speak ahead of all their competition.

grannie cheechee

I paid $100.00 for my FW in 1958, and I got all the attachments, including the button-holer. They didn't have the card table, but my FIL gave me a HON secretary desk that worked for me. In 2001, my DH gave it to GW without my knowledge. It sure has cost him since. LOL

Geri B

Yes, I remember every household in our family had a sewing machine.......and as I grew up I just presumed it was one of the appliances one buys when setting up housekeeping......

Just went to ebay to see how many featherweights are being offered....well there is a boatload of them...some bids are very low and some bids are VERY high..wonder what why the discrepency....age of machine I guess.....I did bid on one just to see how high it will end up. I really don't want one personally...just me.......have enough with three sewing machines...can only sew on one at a time.....I guess they can be as addicting as a tv in every room.......

mpspeedy

I think my mother told me she paid $135 for her featherweight in the late 30s or early 40s. I know she said that she was making $1 a day working in the local store, so it was a major purchase. She handcarried it on the train from Illinois to Maryland when she married my father in 1946. I learned to sew on it. I purchased one in mint condition at a yard sale for just $20. I let my two neices have Mom's machine as she had taught them to sew on it and it was well worn.

jimsjunque

I read somewhere that the Singer Featherweight [221] came out during the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair.And that it cost $125.00. The same year as the Sears quilt contest.

jimsjunque

I read somewhere that the Singer Featherweight [221] came out during the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair.And that it cost $125.00. The same year as the Sears quilt contest.