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!

Sometimes it's not a question of 'need', more a question of 'want'. But they are great little workhorses, not temperamental if they have trips in the car to workshops, and can be maintained by yourself at home - no expensive services. I got hooked and I now have two - a white 221 and a black 222.

I have a white 221, 1963, orginal turquise case. Really nice little machine but I haven't been using it much lately. May in Jersey

I agree with Lacelady. I now have 4, which is ridiculous. I AM going to give one to my DIL though :)

I bought a 221 on Ebay and took it to the local machine shop where he fine tuned it, and showed me how to use all the accessories. She isn't perfect (missing some paint) but she purrs. He told me the motor was in excellent shape. He also gave me this advice:
Never turn the fly wheel backward, it messes up the bobbin. To make the machine go backward, put the lever up to the top.
Some things that cost a little more on the 221 are the graduated throat plate (nice to have) and he told me that the color of the screws and screw driver (black are worth a little more) as they are more rare. Those things don't make a difference to me. I just have mine for travel, and I love it.

I have my FW with me right now, camping at a car show. It has drawn quite a bit of attention.
FYI, if you are in the Richmond IN area, we were just at Webb's antiques in Centerville, on US 40 W. of Richmond, and they had 4 FW in cases. They all looked pretty good. Think the prices were around $300 ea.

Charlie, I didn't get it right. The correct model shows as 221-. Been a long time since I looked at it! Serial number is AM778421, faceplate is straight lines.

a 221 and 222 are not the same the 222 is a free arm machine and is much rarer therefore more expensive. the feather weight is only the 221 or 222 from my understanding

221 and 222 are the ONLY ones that are featherweights. the 66 & 99 are not. 221 should run $100-$400 depending on age and condition. 222 is the free arm version of the 221 and will run $450-$1500, same, depending on condition and age. hope this helps you.

Thank you to everyone who responsed. You really helped clarify some points and understand what I would look for. I certainly don't want to be caught up in the moment and get the wrong machine or pay too much. By waiting and being smart, I hope to snag one within the year. Thanks again.

The 222 is a Featherweight with a freearm - imagine a freearm in the 1940s! Singer is reported to apparently have decided American women would never buy it so they never sold them in the US. They are much higher in price because they are more rare. There was a limited number of them made.

The 221 comes in the usual black that were sold in the US and are still popular. There are also tan and white/lt mint green that were made in Scotland and/or Canada/England. Again more limited in number made so cost a bit more. ALL of the Featherweights still run like champs.

I have two featherweights my hubby bought off eBay. My black featherweight was purchased for about $200 a year ago and the white featherweight is only a few weeks in my possession and was purchased for about $300. They are both in very excellent condition. I also have a 99 that came in a cabinet that I picked up at a garage sale for $50.00. I think the condition of the machine would dictate the price.

66's & 99's are not featherweights, they are Singer sewing machines. 221 & 222 are featherweights.
All depends on condition 66 &99 could go for $100.00. Featherweights could go from $200.000 to $800.00 also depends on the area you are in.

Prices have come down from the top due to availability and the economy.

Careful shopping should get $200 and up depending on condition and the 222 was down to less than $1,000 at Paducah in a dealer booth. The height of this model had it selling for as much as $2,400.

Note: The Little Foot, now redesigned is a great foot for piecing. I have tried two of the metal edge guided feet and they both had the seam allowance more than 1/4 inch.

I use the Little Foot with an edge guide.

This is what I'm told, but I don't know so you'll have to check it out, but the ones not made in the United States of America need a different power supply to use here. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

The prices seem to vary with age and color, with the black ones with beautiful decals worth more if they are in good condition. The area of the country where they are on sale seems to be influential too; CA seemed expensive. They were also made in different places and countries. Mine is one of the last made, according to the Singer dating information; I bought it from the first owner for $46 in 1972. I have paid much more for that in service charges since then but I don't think it would be worth so much except to me. It was made in Scotland, so Singer said.

One of our local QS has quit a few on the counter and in cabnet on display... do all of you FW owners know the FW has a ton of different attachments!!?Her husband is a buff on the FW and had many of the parts on display.. One in particular was a beautiful white one with all of the accessories and case AND it had never been sewed with!!! amazing!! I did not have my camera with me but the next time I am in there I am going to take a pic.
I love mine and am so impressed with the way it sews...

Hi,I got a FW from 1946 with a scroll face. I got it after lugging my regular machine for a class. Toooo heavy. I like taking classes, so figured the cost of this little machine was worth it.:)

The prices on Featherweights in general has gone down on ebay lately. Best time to buy is during the week--prices run up on the weekend. I just paid less than #170 for a Centennial Edition one.

I have a 66-1 which is the one that puts the accessories on via back clamp. You are right - it is not a featherweight. I also have a 221 which is a fw. I love them both! My 66-1 came from Canada and I paid 275. It is dated 1914. My FW came from Florida and I paid 182. It is dated 1950.

I'm a Featherweight-aholic....I have 5 of them in various conditions. I bought one on Ebay for around $350, then 2 at farm auctions and 2 at rummage sales. My favorite is one I purchased at a farm auction - the lady was deceased. Her husband had bought it for her and the original receipt was in the case.

Okay, first of all I know I am hooked on vintage sewing machines as well as being addicted to fabric! I have 5 Featherweights----3 black (dating from 1938 to 1956) a white and a tan one. I also have a 99, 15-91, 201, and 319. I just LOVE and use each of these machines......if I had to name a favorite and most used, it would be the 1938 Featherweight.

The true ffeatherweight is either 221 or 222.

The only Featherweight is either the 221 or 222.

Harrishs, lovely pic of your featherweights! I own a white 221K and a black 221-1. I use mine for all my patchwork piecing, just love them, fantastic little machines. Mine were given to me as gifts from my dh, purchased for between 3 and 4 hundred.

Annie
: )

I went crazy a year or so ago and I now own 3 FWs. I plan to keep one and sell the other two as I do not use them at all (I prefer my 301). But I DO think they are the cutest things ever! They all have boxes (in used condition), too, and I just don't have enough room to store them all. Probably will offer two of them for reasonable amounts to board members in the not too distant future.

Ooops, sorry

I have a black one,it purrs like a kitten,every time I use it have to learn all over again.

Cheapeast i have ever seen for the 222 freearm FW is $700 and that was in London! I have purchased an white 221 for $30(estate sale) & my black one was $180 thru ebay . Love my 1950 black Fw..

the 66 an 99 are not featherweights. They are what has been called 3/4 size machines. I have two 99's and they sew wonderfully, but are certainly not a featherweight. My original 99 I bought in Waco TX for $25.00 in 1972. I bought my second 99 off of ebay for $29.00 plus shipping last year. Both are great.

I own 4 featherweights, 66,99k,15-90k and 201k and use them all.
All of the machines you mentioned sew a wonderful straight stitch and that's all they will do.
The 66 & 99 Singers are NOT featherweights, they weigh about 30-35 pounds, make a great straight stitch. People have figured out that we like older machines and are asking outrageous prices. I wouldn't pay any more than about $40 for the 66 & 99.
The 221 and 222 are, the latter is a free arm and more expensive than the 221. The 221 and 222 weigh about 11 & 12 pounds. The 221 featherweights go from $200 to lots more. The 222 usually starts about at about $500 and goes up from there.
Added pictures of some of my machines so you can see the difference between the models.
Sharon W.