Featherweight Sewing Machine
 

OK I have a chance to purchase a featherweight and I need to make an offer.... They say it is a VERY clean machine and has all the attachments and a case that is good shape... I need to know what woudl you offer for it..... any ideas?

You might check online prices on eBay. I had the opportunity to buy a white one but wasn't sure if it was a good price so I passed. Later found that it was very rare and valuable. Good Luck. You might check the posts in "For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts"

I'd make an offer of $200 if the machine sews and the paint job is still nice. Excellent condition FW can cost up to $400 or more. I was lucky that I was given a whitish FW and many of my guild members have paid $50 to $600 for them.

The price really varies from place to place. Only you can decide what it is worth to you and then stick to that amount and don't get caught up in a bidding war. They go from nothing up to $500.00. There are people out there that bid it up just to get the price up so be careful. Is is a private party selling just to you? If that is the case and you have an opportunity to buy it then I would probably offer between $100 - $150.00. I paid the most for my first one because I was unable to find one locally and bid on E-Bay and ShopGoodwill.com. The funny part was, I ended up with 3! Because after I got my first one, I didn't know how to cancel my bids on the other 2. It was okay though, I got one fore me and each of my daughters. (They don't really sew but figured you never know when you need to make a quick repair and these little machines are small so take very little room and they last forever.)

My eldest daughter refused to learn to turn it on, so now my sister has it and loves it. She takes it instead of her full sized Brother machine.

It also depends on the year it was made. If you have access, you might want to look at completed ebay sales to see what they actually sold for.

Make sure it has a bobbin case. I agree with an earlier post, between 150.00-200.00 is a fair price for one with a case and attachments.

I think it depends upon how bad you want it. For me, about $200.00 is what I would pay.

Prices have leveled out considerably. Sellers think they are rare and overly valuable and will price them through the roof then find out they are not overly valuable or rare and bring the price down to a reasonable amount. The year of manufacture makes no difference in the value. Some people will pay a premium price to get a machine that was made the same year they were born and others my want a centennial machine. Other than those 2 factors, there are all no other value determinations, beside condition, from 1933 to the end of production.

The white ones are not as common as the black ones but they are by no means rare. The only rare FW is the crinkle finish.

Cari

I just sold one or 300.00 with no attachments, and no manual.

I paid $180 for mine with case and attachments about 15 months ago. I thought that was a fair price from a private party.

I paid $135 for mine, including the case and buttonholer. It is dinged up a little but sewed fine when I bought it.

Another good website to keep an eye on is the Yahoo group: "sewitsforsale". You must join to see the posts. There are photographs, and I see a featherweight every 10 days or so. Prices vary -- think it might have to do with where the machine is located -- some areas of our great country have lower costs of living, so can sell things for less. The range for featherweights is mostly in the $250-350 range, with lots of photos, and shipping & insurance is often quoted as well. Good luck, they are wonderful treasures.

Definitely check for a bobbin case. Also check condition of rubber feer on bottom of machine and bottom of foot control. Another thing to check is the condition of the electrical cords. Condition determines the price in our area. The more perfect the decals the higher the price. But one with worn decals can sew as nice as ones that are perfect. Depends on if you are buying to sew or just display.

I have two Featherweights, both bought from craigslist ads. One is a 1950 black one I paid $150 for, great shape and complete, including original accessories and a buttonholer. The second one was my purple repaint (my avatar) and I got it for $140, also complete but the case is a bit rougher. I love them both!

Now I feel like I got ripped off. About 10 years ago all the girls in my bee started buying them so I started looking too. Most of us paid $400-500. Mine came from Canada because I was moving to Washington at the time and it was easier for shipping. I wonder if matters that it's Canadian? It doesn't to me, I really love my little FW! I can't believe they are only going for $200 now.

Hi, I'm a self-proclaimed 221 featherweight amateur historian who owns several of these machines. I've given talks at local quilt shows on them, and learned much of what I know from a gentleman who meticulously studied them (and their subtle differences) for decades. I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Pricing depends on many factors including age, condition, and scarceness of specific machine. For starters, I'd check out the wiring and motor strength/ability.

Price also depends on whether you're looking to machine as a collectible. Oftentimes, for example, cases and machines aren't original to one another, foot control/motor/manual isn't original, etc.

Enjoy :)

I would do this. Do your due diligence first. How far it has to ship and who they ship it through makes a difference. If you get it and it gets shipped pay the extra for insurance. At least what you paid for it. And make sure they have and you get a copy of the tracking number. You also want a confirmed delivery with signature. It will be all worth it in the end.

Make note of every post. None of us QB members want others to lose money on purchases. Good Luck!!

I paid $275 for one but it was in great shape with case attachments and manual PLUS completely serviced

If everything is there...I would offer 100-200 which is fair to me but then again depends on the age/condition of it. I brought my white one at an estate sale for 30 but paid 45 to have it checked and cleaned. See what they say at 150 but be prepared to go up some....

I gave $160.00 for mine at an auction, so the price varies. It is in tip top shape and absolutely great finish and gold on it, so it depends on how badly you want it. You can always go up in price, but you can't come down once you have made an offer. I love my little FW and it has the attachments and a great case as well. I have seen them go as little as 25.00 too, so there is a big range of prices. The one I bought was an aunts machine and I thought I was going to get it more cheaply than I did, but a fellow jumped in at the last minute for a few bids.

They are a great little machine and easy to take with you to classes.

How is your idea going about asking the price of the FW? So many have said it depends on where you are looking; sometimes South is cheaper, sometimes not. I bought my last one in Alabama for $275, not in tip top shape, but the person who owned it "knew what she had and wasn't caring whether she sold it that day or not" and DH and I had been looking for one over six months, so he was determined to be done with the "chase" so he said OK (after I had already walked away in a huff).....but for all practical purposes, it is wonderful. The GD and I have pieced our last six quilts on it--she loves it and so do I.

We looked for a feather weight for a very long time. One day my DH went into a shop that sells most things cheap to help people with their electric and other things. He came in with this machine for 20.00 and said I think I got you a feather weight and I thought he didn't have enough money to buy that. But he said he gave 20.00 for it. I looks like a feather weight, gold and all still good. Box is good but when I typed everything about it on the internet it came up saying this machine is a sister to the FW. Don't know what that means but the machine is so pretty and I have never taken it back out of its box.

It sounds like you might have a black 301. Still a good score for that price. You should use it, these old gals love nothing more than to be used.

Cari

In Michigan I've seen them as much as $600 at quilt stores. THey are beautiful and work great at that price.

I bought one a few years ago at an auction from a neighbor, so I knew the machine had been well cared for. It came with all attachments, as well as a table, and I had to outbid an antique buyer so I paid $310 for it.

llweezie, One question first -- is this FW being sold by an individual or by a store? If the seller is an individual, ask them if they know the history of the machine. (With many machines, it was their mother's, aunt's, grandmother's and has been sitting in a closet, the basement, the attic, etc.) If it is a store, ask how they acquired the machine. Also, ask if they know when it was last serviced. I have a tan FW, and in the case is a receipt for the last service dated 1985. Ask them if it sews. Clean is cosmetic, and you need to know if it will operate. If they are in your area, ask if you can try the machine out. If they aren't close to you, ask them if there is a money-back guarantee if the machine doesn't work. Also, ask if the bobbin case is included, as that is an additional $50 expense if it isn't there. If you can see the machine, the better the condition of the finish and the decals, the higher the price.

I have 6 FWs, -- 4 black, 1 white and one tan. I purchased them all on eBay, and I didn't pay over $225 for one of them (and that included the shipping costs). I found that a machine is worth what you are willing to pay for it.

Maniac, white FWs are no more "rare and valuable" than the black ones. They are newer, being made in the early 60's instead of in the 1930s - 1950s, but they are as wonderful as the blacks. IMHO, the tans are harder to find, mainly because I think people don't want to let go of them.

Poodles, Look up the serial number on your machine. It will be stamped into a plate affixed to the bottom of your machine. http://www.singerco.com/support/machine-serial-numbers . It might be a model 301, which is often called the big sister of the FW, as it weighs only a few pounds more. The major difference is that the 301 is a slant foot and the FW is a straight foot. It comes in a box that looks like a suitcase, not a square box like the FWs. I bought a 301 for my daughter (I couldn't bear to give up any of my FWs) and after we oiled and lubed it, it sews like a dream. You might be pleasantly surprised, if that is what your machine is.

mckwilter, you must be one lucky devil to have gotten all of those from Ebay at that price!

I bought one a few months ago from a private party for $250. That is considered CHEAP for my area. Most are $300 and above and they don't seem to be very plentiful here. :)

The only rare FW I own is an original tan colored one, they were only made for a few years. It cost me $550, 15 years ago.

Yes, I consider myself very lucky. I purchased 4 of my machines from private individuals. The tan was a fluke find, because from the pictures that were posted, I thought it was white, until the last picture, which included a brown case. White machines come in a cream and green case; tan machines come in a two-toned brown case. I honestly think the seller didn't know what a limited run of tans Singer made. I actually got that one for under $200. I am happy with all of mine, and have now started looking for a 222, which is the same as a 221, except it has the free-arm and the feed dogs drop, so you can FMQ with it without covering the feed dogs. But since those run in the thousands, I will continue to dream.

I recently attended AQS Grand Rapids. The Jean Lyle booth was there and the lady had a FW set up. She was quilting on it...with a quilting foot and no covered feed dogs. I do long arm, but the draw of being able to take my FW with me when I travel AND quilt on it...that quilting foot came home with me! There was no pull on the fabric. I sat for quite a while and quilted on it.

If it is a 301, I'm jealous!! I see a lot of featherweights on craigslist but have yet to see a 301. A shop that sold old machines used to have a few but they closed up so now I don't even know where else to look.