I keep reading discussions about how much is "too much" to pay for a Singer Featherweight. Does anyone know how much a new one sold for back when they first came on the market?

I believe I read somewhere they were around 99.00. That may have been in the late 40's though.

Very good question. I would like to know that also.

Assuming purchase year was 1948, that's $886.58 in 2010 dollars, adjusted for inflation.

I bet the Featherweight Yahoo Group would know. I haven't signed up but thinking about it.

I read on a blog that they cost the same as a car costs now... Found it: http://brooke-johnson.blogspot.com/2...nd-sewing.html

Here's a closed eBay auction with a receipt from 1941 - for $77.04 total ($1,127.47 in 2010 dollars).

http://cgi.ebay.ph/SINGER-221-FEATHE...-/160628134845

As you can see, the auction finished at $56.88 in July 2011. :shock:

Another interesting question would be - What would it cost to manufacture a Featherweight today? I think we couldn't afford it.

I know it was a fraction of what we pay today. But since they were sold from the 30's to the 60's it would be difficult to come up with an exact amount. But someone must know.

Scroll down for Featherweight information. Courtesy of Graham Forsdyke:
Subject: Trade-in info pt2 Machines.

As promised here is the final installment of the Trade-in information from
Singer to their dealers. Unfortunately, they didn't see fit to list the
dates of manufacture for the Featherweight.

Dates of manufacture of various Singer machines.

Treadles--
9-W-7................................................. ......1909 to 1913
115-1................................................. ......1912 to 1935
15-30................................................ .......1895 to 1933
27-4................................................. .......1889 to 1913
127-3................................................. ......1913 to ----
66-1 (Egyptian (green) Ornamentation........................1902 to 1906
66-1 Scroll (red) Ornamentation.............................1906 to 1923
66-4................................................. .......1923 to ----
Portables
128-3................................................. ......1917 to ----
128-13................................................ ......1917 to ----
66-13................................................ .......1920 to ----
99K5.............................................. ..........1924 to 1925
99K10............................................. ..........1922 to 1924
99K13............................................. ..........1924 to 1924
99-13................................................ .......1925 to ----
101-10................................................ ......1922 to 1926
101-11................................................ ......1925 to 1929

Electric Tables
66-6-19................................................ .....1921 to 1925
66-6-20................................................ .....1923 to 1926
66-6-305............................................... .....1925 to 1925
66-6-306............................................... .....1928 to 1931
66-6-40................................................ .....1925 to ----

101-1-17, 18, 19............................................1920 to 1925
101-2-20................................................ ....19?? to 1926
101-3-40................................................ ....1925 to 1930
101-4-40................................................ ....1929 to 1937

Average Cash Price of Treadle Machines
1906 - 1912 $36.80 to 41.60
1913 - 1917 $39.60 to 44.40
1918 - 1920 $44.40 to 55.60
1921 - 1928 $60.80 to 67.20
1928 - 1935 $72.25 to 85.00
1935 - 1946 $84.00 to 115.00

Average Cash Price of Electric Portables
128 99 221-1
1922 - 1934 $59.50 $77.00 **
1934 - 1941 59.50 85.00 $88.00
1946 - 1946 69,50 95.00 105.00

Average Cash Price of Electric Consoles
66 101 201 15-91
1920 - 1925 $120.00 $140.00 ** **
1926 - 1935 140.00 178.00 ** **
1936 - 1946 155.00 ** $175.00 $150.00

** Not produced during this period.

Everything above is copied verbatum from the list that Singer published. I
am not responsible for the accuracy of the information. The date listed
above with the two ?? (Model 101-2-20) indicates that I was unable to
decypher the numbers on the original document.

I hope this information is helpful
----------------------------
From: Graham Forsdyke