Ok ladies, after discovering this forum, and especially after finding all the Featherweight discussions, you have all become "enablers". I simply must have one of these machines. I searched the topics here, I've scoured the internet and read many, many sites about Featherweights. Now I have a few questions for all you experts. If money was not a serious consideration, what would you buy? Are there any years that are supposed to be better, more updated, more trustworthy etc? I have found many, many for sale. I live in a rural area, so getting one worked on if I needed to would not be easy. I'm sure my husband and I can clean one and maintain it. He restores old cars. This would be right us his alley. So, do I buy gently used, almost new, totally stripped down and re-done? I'll be glad for any and all opinions. I plan on keeping this for a looong time, and hopefully teaching my 6 year old granddaughter to quilt in the future. Thanks!!

oh my goodness you've been bitten by the featherweight bug :shock: :lol: ;-)

now then, i love them also and i have 6 of them :!: it really depends on what you are really wanting or looking for. if you want to get a fixer upper do that. if you don't want to fix one up before you sew with her then be more particular. i love my first one the most. a 1934 named abby, she was abused and scuffed up but i just really love her. i have a few that are really beautiful also. you will just fall in love with these little beauties.

i am tickled for you :thumbup: let us know what you buy....please

There is a book that tells you how to maintain your own Featherweight. I can't think of the title right now but someone else may know.
I can't give you much advice on buying other than that I won my first in an Ebay auction and was very pleased with its condition. If you went through Paypal and wasn't happy, I think there'd be a way to take care of that but others may know that as well.
Do you have Craigslist in your area? That might be an option too but please be safe about meeting up with strangers.
Good luck,
lots2do

I have 4 featherweights, all bought online and I'm happy with each of them. If you buy online be sure the seller knows how to properly pack a machine for shipment. If you google "how to ship a sewing machine" you will get the info. You can email this to the seller.
My machines range in age from 1940 to 1964 and include a tan and a white model. They all sew fine, straight stitches. There is some little difference in the sound (voice) of my machines. I've heard some people think the white (newest) machines aren't as good as the others but mine is every bit as good as the blacks and tans.
If I were to buy another and price was not a factor I would look for the best mechanical condition, best cosmetically, most complete with case and accessories and if there was a centennial machine I would snap it up.
There are some very good featherweight specialests selling on the web. They recondition, rate and guarentee the machines they sell. They also cost more.
Good luck with your Featherweight search. You will enjoy it.

Check out: http://singerfeatherweight221.blogspot.com/

I would buy one that looked the best cosmetic wise. They are easy to repair and parts are available for all models. It's hard to fix one with a marked or ruined body so it looks good. I have the white featherweight (really a celery green but looks white). The white is smaller then the classic black. It looks adorable and it will by my granddaughter's machine one day.

If money was no object then a 222K would be the one I would want or the Texas State Fair edition.


Billy

I would buy one in good condition all decals in good to fair condition. For fun I bought one that was built the year I was born. Also it is nice to have a Centennial machine, they run just a little more than the others, but usually not more than an additional $100. I also like the white/green ones. That will be my next purchase. If you go with the 222, they are quite rare and run substantially more, they have a free arm.

Maintenance on a featherweight is easy. Happy hunting.

Thanks ladies for all your thoughts. Has anyone seen the flaming red one for sale on Ebay? Oh my, She's purty. I have 40 on my watch list. I think I'm going to have a hard time deciding. I might have to make me a spreadsheet to compare all of the features/price/seller info/.

HA! I've whittled my list from 38 down to 10 that I'm going to keep my eye on. Wish me luck.