Feather weight price different
 

Can anyone tell me why prices are different on Feather weight? I know a lot has to do with the condition, but is the date that important. Or is it the scroll plate, how do I know which one is worth more than others?

A lot of it is due to the fact that they're used. People can ask whatever they want for them. That doesn't mean they'll get it of course, but they can ask. It's up to the buyer to decide if the price they're asking is too high or not.

Condition (original? restored?) Case? feet/accessories? and geographic location (whatever the local market will bear).
This is the perfect question to ask on the special vintage and antique machine thread:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...thusiasts-f22/

I've seen excellent hardly used ones sell for under $200 and some that sell for $650. Some are found for free. I wanted a white Featherweight to use and to pass on to my granddaughter but was hesitant to go the Ebay route without trying it first. I was given one for free.

Ahhhhhhhh, Ebay. Ebay caused the prices to drop on whole categories of collectibles and antiques. Before Ebay a local antique store had a featherweight marked at $700. I don't know if she ever sold it at that price but I know that after Ebay started to get really big a featherweight in her store would be between $200 to maybe $250 at the most.

Just depends on who is selling it!

Even the pros go to ebay for pricing for what the market will support. An item may be appraised for one amount but the selling price is usually a lot less then then the appraised value. I rarely go by the appraised value, it doesn't mean much except for insurance purposes.

Don't forget that an "Appraisal" is just an opinion. Many local sellers (on Craigslist) note an appraisal of hundreds, or even thousands on old black straight stitch machines. They make the comment, "I know what it's worth so don't try to lowball me." Hahahahaha. WE all know that they do not sell for that much except in very very rare cases. These machines are listed for years, sometimes, and just do not sell, unless the seller gets smart and sells it for $10-$40.

I bought a very nice FW right down the road at a garage sale, dirty and badly needing service, for $20. I later sold it for $250, which was a bit low for it's condition. I might have gotten more, but I figured that I had made enough on it.

According to the repairman at the Singer service center in my area. The color of the machienes plays a roll. He said Singer made them in different colors (black, green, white) one color being made better than the other. I took his advice when I bought mine.

I have heard that the black ones are made better, but the light colored ones bring more money....because they are more "rare". What did your OSMG tell you?

I would say in rank order - condition; accessories; geography; scroll vs straight face plate. But in reality, geography is going to be the great dictator. A friend found mine for me. He only wanted $25. I paid him a bit more. People in this general area ask anywhere from $200-$600 on Craigslist in decent/good condition. Yet another board member here got one at a garage sale recently for $25. A little rough, no case/accessories. I'm cheap. I'll wait/look for a long time before spending big bucks on something like that. Last year picked up an electrified red eye for $50. Needs a bit of refurb but in (I think) overall decent condition.

I got mine for $240/ cash. I was told $500-750.
It depends on whos buying and how badly they want it. Mine came clean, with accessories and a case.

There's only white and black, but the white has a faint greenish tinge (some people claim it's turquoise) so people get confused and think it's a third color. The white ones generally sell for more, because there are not as many of them, but the black ones are supposed to be slightly better at sewing. I think price depends mostly on whether the seller knows what the item is (ridiculously low prices from those who do not know, and very happy buyers) and on whether, knowing what it is, he jumps to the conclusion that it's made of gold (ridiculously high prices from those sellers, but usually no buyers).

There is also a tan one. I am looking for a tan one now.

Love those featherweights, they were also made in Tan, made in Canada, same style as the White ones, plain Jane, no decals but "cute" also, they were in a brown and cream colored case. Ruth

Look at the small details of condition, wait it out. There are machines up for bid everyday...so don't rush and you will find the one! Good luck.

I got mine for $75.00 guy was asking $250 but he needed cash and I pointed out the flaws...they weren't bad but he thought the value was greatly lessened by them....he got his cash, I got a great little featherweight

Marketing 101: it is a fair price if you are willing to pay it. This is one of the basic rules of marketing.

Sandy

I got both of mine for around $100. Both were in great shape. One has accessories and one doesn't. I figured for that price, I could buy some accessories for her! They are advertised around here for $350-$500.

My SMG buys them from estate and garage sales, refurbishes and sells them on ebay. I got a free one from someone and he checked it out for me. He told me not to buy a white one because they weren't made as good as the black ones (by the time they came out with the white ones, I guess Singer was cost-cutting). His advice to me if I wanted to find another: go to estate sales and rummage around in the back of the closets, basements or garages. That's where he finds FWs that nobody thinks are anything but an old sewing machine and he gets good prices then.

I have three of them, all from ebay none of which I paid over 175 for. I found the accessories and feet to go with them on ebay before the prices got too high. My son took the parts from two broken ones and rebuilt one for me (black) The white one I got is in good working order, the paint is a little damaged on the edge but I bought it knowing that I just wanted one that I could carry around and use without worry. The case was destroyed somehow by the postal service. So I have put it in a canvas bag to carry it around. I would love to have the 222, free arm version but those are definately out of the price range I am willing to pay. They are much rarer since not as many were made.

It has been my observation that it is a whole lot of things; demand, mostly. When I bought mine 9 yrs. ago, there hadn't been any for sale in this part of the country for a very long time. So, I got mine for $500.00
It had hardly been used, and was really in very good condition. It also had the Scrollwork, all of the attachments, a workable case, and a book. It sewed the first minute I tried it and gave and still does, give a beautiful stitch.
So, to me, it was worth it. I have seen our tech. guy, but mostly my own misunderstanding of how it works, and I had already worn out 1 bobbin case.
There are others who have paid as little as $200, but they had to have work done on them. So, guess it depends on many things what the price will be.
Mariah

some people think that if a machine is old and black, it must be worth a fortune; no matter what condition its in.

Ok, so I went back and talked to the authorised singer repair man in my area and asked him again what is the difference between the black ones and the tan-green-white ones. He said the main difference is the black ones are gear driven thus a better quality. The others are belt driven, thus a lesser quality. Hope this clears things up.

This is a true story. My DH and I "passionately" collected vintage and antique sewing machines for several years. We saw a featherweight, I think it was a 1964, on E-Bay. It was beautifully presented and in fantastic condition. The time was just before Valentine's Day, two years ago. It had many pictures with hearts and roses around it. Had to be shown by a graduate of the Barnum and Bailey pitch man school. It sold for just over $1,200.00. Couldn't believe it. Many times people ask high prices because they think that someone, somewhere will pay it. You can get good deals on them, but the condition, scroll face plate and year are important to most collectors. Other than decorative (decals, face plate) aspects, the machines remained the same as far as function and appearance. We found most of those we bought on E-Bay ranged in price from $134 to $295 plus shipping. The one for $295 is in pristine condition. Hope this helps you.

I have never seen a FW without a belt. The 301's (big sister to the FW) are gear driven. I do think that the white FW's have some nylon moving parts on the inside. I believe the original white FW's had red belts, which some people prize if in good condition.