Just have to ask....every day someone is delighted to have found another Featherweight or 2 or 3! :D :-D :-D And I'm happy for you.

How many were made, I wonder, and are they still being made? Do they multiply? Or are you guys just passing them around? Seems like if they are not still in production, Mr. Singer is missing out on a hot market!

Happy Easter everyone! :thumbup:

Singer has put back out a "Featherweight" but from what I have heard it is NOT the same quality as the old ones - as for how many are out there I have no clue - but would love to hear the answer

I believe, correct me if I'm wrong someone, that there were approx. 10,000 made. However, I don't know if that counts the ones made in UK, the white and tan ones.

Edit: I was wrong, the fee arm ones were over 9,000 made so the regular models had to be more than that. Who knows!!

I think they stopped making them in 1968 or so, not exactly sure.
Have no idea how many were made but it does seem like we're scooping them all up! :D:D
I now have 3, 2 blacks and 1 white :D:D

here is a link to the dating page - LOTS were made

http://www.singer-featherweight.com/...es/dating.html

Go here and browse for the model 221. Just a quick statistic.
Feb 9, 1947 20,00---Nov22, 1946 20,000---Oct 25, 1946 10,000 (221-1)----Sept 16, 1946 20,000

There were lots of FW made in the 'day' that we all want. Here is the site http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_2letter.html

Wow Sharon, you had the same idea as I did!!!

I'm dreaming about having one. But money is too tight and people seem to think they are gold in MN.

On the day that mine was made, they made 20,000 of them...just that one day. Mine was made about 3/4's of the way through the day, based on it's serial number! :)

Seems to me there were a ton of them and there is no shortage of them. It has been a thing of one person gets one and another says I want one too which has kept the price very good. They are cute.

I am hoping to find a British FW cousin to add to my little group while I'm in Ireland/England next month. DH says I bet they are here...no, I want one from over there.

I have the white (really called celery green) FW. It's so cute everyone in a class has to stop and pet it. I'm giving it to my granddaughter, she loves it. I like sewing on the 301, the FW's grandmother!

I have a black one but would love to get a white one or a Centennial model :). I know that 1 is really all one 'needs' but they are so cute and purr like kittens!! I would also like to find a 301 :)

Wow! That's a lot! I had no idea that many featherweights were produced. I have a beautiful black fw and my little pink machine. All I need is a white one and my collection will be complete. :-D

Be aware you will need a converter to use it here in the states. Check it out.:)

I have a converter for my grandmother's Bernina from England. The thing's a brick! Fun to set it all up and get to sewing, though, knowing its history. :D

So delighted to have finally gotten my first Featherweight!

I've had my for about 30 years (sitting in the closet the last 10) but is now out and ready to do. After all this time, I found out mine is a Centineal.

When you date your machine, the Singer site gives you a precise date and how many machines, but it does not mean that they were all made on that exact day, it means that they comissioned that many to be made for that period of time starting on the date given.

I was doing a little checking on the master serial number pages. The 221 began production in 1933. Through to the beginning of 1940, there were serial numbers allotted for manufacturing the 221 to the tune of 250,000. Just because the list says there were "20,000 made on June 5" only means they allocated that many serial numbers to that plant. It doesn't mean they were all made on that day. It may take a plant a few months to make that many machines. Based on that quantity in just 7 years, and the fact that they produced these jewels thru 1968, I would guess that several million Featherweights were built. I do not understand why these machines are so expensive, considering there were approx. 4 million made and the fact these machines are so durable and long lasting. However, I love my Featherweights and use them all the time.

I hope I find one!

me too---want one so badly, but money is too tight what with hubby being out of work for 2 years now.

Where do you find the serial number on the machine?

What a interesting topic and so informative, and very nice to know, because i am one of those not familiar. Thank you for the sites.

I think there is still emough for all of us to get another one!!! I have 7 right now. A couple of them are all taken apart for me to get busy and get them repainted.

Wow Beth!!! Please post some pics to show us your babies!

I have two......one my mother got for her high school graduation in 1942 and a light green one I bought the day I got my first job out of hairdressing school in 1964. The price on the green one brand new was $120.00.

The serial number is located under the bed of the machine right next to the extension of the bed. It consists of 2 letters and 6 numbers. If you take the serial number and go to http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_numbers.html you will be able to look up the age of the machine.

I will do that. Hopefully I can do that this weekend. I am helping a DGD with a project for her kindergarden class. I am thinking that is going to take most of the day. Here are a couple of them in this thread.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-69751-1.htm

Two years ago, at a local quilt show, I was talking to a man who had several vintage FW's for sale. He told me that after the zig-zag machines became popular, Singer would, take the old featherweights as trade-ins for the new machines. The old FW trade-ins went into landfills. What a shame!

LOL, reading this made me smile! I think the FW creator was a rabbit! lol there are tons of them out there, many made each year. The great thing about them is that they last and last. All medal parts and strong little girls. Another factor is that they are soooo darn cute and lightweight.

Enjoy your Easter!
Sharon

Underneathe, on the bottom of the machine. It is stamped into the aluminum.

The great thing about them is that they last and last. All medal parts and strong little girls. Another factor is that they are soooo darn cute and lightweight.
They are such a joy to own and use, easy maintenance,Oh and yes-addictive. We love to talk about them. And really, really cute, just look.

Sorry for double post.

[quote=aorlflood]On the day that mine was made, they made 20,000 of them...just that one day. Mine was made about 3/4's of the way through the day, based on it's serial number! :)[/quote

How did u find out what part of the day it was made. im very intrested in old machine, i just started getting them. thanks for u help

Wow, they sure made a lot of them and we are now enjoying them. I wonder how many are actually still around? That haven't been tossed, etc.?

Bella could you post a photo of yours? I don't think I've ever see it and would love to give it a 'virtual petting' ... does it look white or light green?

oh Bella, I think Cabinquilter may have posted a photo just above my last msg.

Is that one like yours? LOVE all 3 of them.

Saw a white one, really white on ebay today and it is a beauty but at over $300 I just can't afford it. BUT if I could I would buy that instead of the new Singer featherweights which go for about $350+.

They are such wonderful little machines. They go anywhere you go and can sew a perfect stitch every time you use one.. Light weight, their own black, square carrying case.. The perfect machine for most of us when we're quilting away from home.. I have 3 of them.. I love them all. My mother gave me my first one, the other two sort of fell into my lap. One day my daughter will have the one my mom gave me and it will still sew as well as it does today I bet!

I have a green 185-k. anyone know anything about this machine made by Singer??? it still sews great, and a little bigger than a FW. carol PS i have two FW 1948 and 1953, and two singer roundtops.

I have 3 black featherweights. I know that is too many. Aren't they just adorable?
I sure would like to add a white one to my collection.
What did i just say?????!!!!! LOL