Love your featherweight?

Reply Subscribe

Page 10 of 12

« First

Thread Tools

01-29-2011, 06:13 AM

#91

kapatt

Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: Washington state

Posts: 820

I have two featherweights and very seldom use them. I bought one and found that even with the 1/4 foot I had trouble getting the scant 1/4 seam allowance...(probably operator error). My mother gave me her white featherweight. I have a working singer 301 that I very seldom use either.

I have several vintage machines but my favorite is the regular size singer 403. I can move the needle towards the right where I can get that 1/4 seam allowance that I want.

I'm not sorry that I have my two featherweights but I will probably pass them on to my children sometime in the future.

I want to add that the vintage singers (like the featherweights and 301s) are made very well. I love the fact that my featherweights will last a long time (along with my other vintage Singers).

01-29-2011, 06:25 AM

#92

whinnytoo

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Maine

Posts: 1,189

the Featherweight is a perfect travel companion! I dont leave home without it. what color is yours? mine is mint green

01-29-2011, 09:07 AM

#93

Maia B

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: IL

Posts: 2,671

Nita, my Centennial (1951) has a scroll faceplate.

01-29-2011, 10:21 AM

#94

Feathers

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2007

Location: Pacific NW

Posts: 3,007

I have to agree with everything all of you have commented about the FW. I bought my first one last spring for $125 . It rolled off the Singer assembly line Jan. 17, 1955. Yesterday I was cleaning out our storage space in the basement storage area under the stairway. In the far corner on the floor beneath one of the steps I found this small black case....this looks like the case my FW came in! Lug, lug, lug all the stuff away so I could get the case out! Low and behold, it's a FW! My husband's deceased wife got the machine for her HS graduation in 1956. She passed in 1984. He thought the machine went home with one of the kids when the house was cleaned out after she passed but guess none of the kids wanted it so it got pushed to the back of the storage area. I'm just thrilled to have found it after all these years. It was dirty and needed oiling and cleaning up but it's in brand new, perfect shape. I'm thrilled to have "found" it in our basement storage area. That's a "cave" my husband has always used to put things away in and I'd never tackled that area but I'm sure glad I did yesterday. A look at the Internet tells me this FW rolled off the assembly line June 10, 1955.

01-29-2011, 10:30 AM

#95

quiltingbeargal

Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: N. Central Texas

Posts: 15

Yes I did. It's a 90 for paper piecing. I'm going to double check on needle and bobbin installation before I seek professional help.

01-29-2011, 10:41 AM

#96

kwilter

Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: lovely Elmhurst, IL

Posts: 930

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonrise

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nita

Moonrise ~ Can I ask you a question? Does your featherweight have the fancy scrolled face plate? The way the photo is taken, the face plate does not show. Here is why I ask: I own a 1955 Featherweight (her name is Fern, BTW) but I've been keeping my eyes open for one born in 1950 because that is my year of birth. However, if I'm going to end up with the exact same look, I think I might just stick with my ole'girl, Fern, since I know it is in great runnung condition, I've already had her tuned up by the local Singer man and I just cleaned and oiled it according to the David MacCallum book. I just need to clean and wax the exterior with Carnuba car wax and she will be ready to win a Featherweight Beauty contest!. So, I guess the only reason I might have to trade her in is if I could find one of those beautiful ornate looking machines in good running order. Does anyone know what was the last year that Singer stopped making Featherweights with the fancy scroll plate and frilly decal rather than the simple braid that Fern has?

Mine's got the straight-ribbed faceplate.

I tried to Google it and find out, but apparently there's not a specific year that the plates changed, according to this:

http://www.singer-featherweight.com/...cts-Myths.html

"It is impossible to state the exact date on which minor specification changes took place – for example the switch from "deco" face plate to straited design. Parts bins at the factory were topped up as they became low and it was quite possible for an early feature to appear on a later machine as the parts bin got lower again

The appearance of "straited" face plates on earlier machines can be explained in two ways. 1) If the lower thread guide was broken off the deco plate on an early machine the plate would be replaced by the serviceman with the only available spare – the newer straited plate. 2) Dealers would often "up-date" early machines they had taken in trade, or which had remained unsold, with the latest cosmetic parts to aid sales."

Looks like you will want to hold on to the FW you already have. What you found on the site you quoted is probably correct. In addition, the following is a quote from Nancy Johnson Srebros' FW book: "Later on, in early 1947 at about the start of the series AH, a newer design face plate began to be randomly seen. This design consists of vertical grooves or stripes that cover the entire surface of the plate......One year later, by about the mid-point of the AH series, all U.S. 221 machines were being supplied with this striated design. Why the change? I believe it was a cost-cutting measure......." Hope this helps.

01-29-2011, 10:52 AM

#97

jbj137

Super Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Duncan, SC, 29334 USA

Posts: 4,580

If you do not want it,

I DO.

J J

01-29-2011, 11:42 AM

#98

Tennessee Suzi

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Tennessee

Posts: 467

Before I was a full time quilter, I was a dressmaker and used Pfaff machines. BUT, if I needed to sew on ultrasuede, nothing could beat the Featherweight. Now I piece my quilts either by hand or on the FW.

01-29-2011, 12:16 PM

#99

fktsewing

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2007

Location: Westerville, Ohio

Posts: 711

FW is the only machine my Granny had and it was a workhorse. My cousin got it when she passed. I would love to have one, but just cannot afford to spend that kind of money right now with hubby out of work for 2 years----so if you decide not to take the one for free, or if any of you have an extra one that you do not want, please pm me. I would be eternally grateful.