Yes, they were pricey, but I understand that Singer started the monthly budget play; women could pay it off in monthly installments. Singer did that in order to beat out the competition.

My grandmother told me during the depression many home sewing machines were sold for a few dollars or used to barter when the family had to pack and move. She got her first machine from a family whose truck broke down in front of her house and her father had the part to fix the truck and the man paid him by offering the sewing machine. Sad the sewing machine was the first things to sell but they were very heavy and usually in a big cabinet, hard to pack and move.

I have 2 FWs. My mother received one for her HS graduation in 1942 and cost $99. I bought my mint green one in 1964 and paid $120.

I was recently fortunate enough to purchase a featherweight that was sold in approximately 1957 and it contained the business card of the seller with the purchase price of $135.00 written on the back of his card. Hope this is helpful.

Mine was bought in 1952 and the receipt says 89.59 hard case included.

I bought mine in 1961 and paid 120$ made 16$ month payments.
Traded it in on a 501 wish I had it back.

My mother purchased one new in 1956 and the price then was under 100.00. She used that machine until about 1962 and then traded it in on a new model Singer which she had and used regularly until about 2000. Both machines according to the repairman were just wore out and unrepairable.

Not sure that featherweights ever "wear out" or are "unrepairable."

BTW, got my white (light green) featherweight in the summer of 1962 for $90. The buttonholer was about $30. Never used the buttonholer!

I bought one in the spring off of e-bay and the recipe was in the case where it was bought new March 22, 1948 and it cost $135.00. I thought that was a lot of money then, must have really wanted to sew.

One of the ladies in my Linus group sews on her Featherweight, bought new over 60 years ago for $160. She opted for the more expensive FW because she planned to travel a lot (military) and wanted its portability. Said she's done all her family sewing, including upholstery, on it, and it's still plugging along with only one repair, ever.