Finally have started seeing more of these machines in my area.... However ... how do you know which model is preferred? I have seen models 66, 99, 221, 222. What is a reasonable price range for one?

Thanks for your input. Waiting to see your responses.

I do not know much about the 66 and 99, but the 221 and the 222 are the same machine but the 222 has a freearm and therefore is more expensive for the ones I have seen. I got a 221 off of ebay for approx. $250 Cdn and 222's are usually at least double that and I have seen them for up to $1000 Cdn (a little overpriced in my opinion).

Price depends on the condition. The better the condition of the machine & case, the higher the price. Sometimes a garage sale has a great find when someone inherits one & does not know an old machine is worth $. Unfortunately many of the Featherweighs were stored in basements or garages & have mold or rust issues.

Donnajean is right. I have a beautiful 66 that I got for 40.00 but was in need of TLC. She's a beauty now. I don't know about the 99 but Featherweights prices depend on condition, case etc.

The 66 & 99 are not Featherweights. The 221 & 222 are Featherweights. The 221 is the more common model. The 222, with the freearm, are not seen as much. (I believe fewer were made in the first place). Unfortunately the prices are all over the board. I would not be willing to pay more than $200-$300 for one, personally.

*Fortunately I have mine that was given to me by my Mom & Dad when I was 12 years old :)

It all depends on what you want to spend. If you're patient, you can find vintage machines for little or nothing.
Cowgirl is right, "Black" does not equal "Featherweight". A Featherweight machine weighs 11.2 pounds and has a bed that folds up to the head of the machine to fit it into a case.

I agree with Quiltncowgirl that 66's and 99's are not Featherweights. Many of the older Featherweights (pre 1956 or so) do not have the model number 221 on them. The free arm Featherweights (model 222) were only made for a couple of years and were never manufactured in the U.S.A. so that is why you have a even harder time finding them. Featherweights in my area show up fairly regularly on Kijiji (Canadian version of Craig's List) and have dropped in price from a high of about $500 a couple of years agao. Lately I have seen them listed between $150-$400 and they don't seem to be selling quite as quickly. My local used furniture/furnishings store has one sitting in their front window at $325 and it's been there for months.

I have a question, I've had my FW since 1959 when I bought it used for $200. I bought it at the Singer dealer and was told at that time it would ALWAYS be worth what I paid for it. Smart man! Anyway, my fw IS A 221-1, what does that signify?

Carol, what's the serial number on your FW? "221-1" would indicate that the features/way the machine is made is the first model of FW. For example, the faceplates on some of the FWs have a scroll, others have straight lines... I'm sure that if we put our machines side by side, we'd find more slight differences in the way they were put together (could be internal). That would be what the "1" after the "221" indicates.

Wow! This is very informative! Someone bought a fw on shop goodwill yesterday for a lil over 100$!!! Cool I thought of bidding but don't need another machine!