I recently bought a Singer 15-91, which is in mint condition, but secretly covet a 201. (guess it's not a secret anymore!) I love the charm and durability of the older machines. My sewing machine repairman told me that he hates the newer machines with the plastic heads that are split in half -- that eats a lot of the labor charge, because they are easy to take apart, but not fun to put back together --- very labor intensive.

I have several reasons for buying my vintage singers. First off, I like Singers since it is easy to find the needles, bobbins and parts for them. I finally realized that my obsession with black Singers was because of watching my Grandmother sew dresses for me on her old singer when I was around five years old. I enjoy fixing and working on these workhorses but they very seldom have problems so I don't get to work on them very much. (I end up buying broken ones in the 2nd hand stores so that I can tinker with them.)

I love the Singer models 401 and 403s because I can move the needle both to the right and left. (I have 3 of these machines. I have one down at my neighbors for when we quilt together. I have another one in my sewing/guest room and one in the dining room for when the sewing/guest room is being used.)
These two models help me to get the perfect 1/4 seam without using a special 1/4 foot. (I have several 1/4 feet for my newer machines but I can never seem to get a good 1/4 seam when I use them.)

I have two featherweights (one was my mothers and I bought the other one for sewing classes before I received my mothers). I very seldom use them even though I have the 1/4 foot for them. I like my 401s and 403 better.

I have two 301s that I also never use anymore and will probably give them away. I wanted my son to take one because it is a good sturdy machine. I hoped to trade him the 301 for the model 99 that I gave him in earlier years. The stinker wanted to trade for one of my featherweights instead and we couldn't come to an agreement. :lol:

I have a Singer treadle model 15 that does a great stitch and I enjoy treadling on it. Right now I'm making a log cabin quilt on it.

I bought another model 99 that I plan on making into a handcrank. It is small and I can put it away in a carrying case.
I have a model 66 that I am saving for when my husband wants to work on canvas things. (It keeps him away from my other machines.) It is a good working sewing machine and I've thought about putting it back into a cabinet but first I have to find the cabinet and find a place to put the cabinet.

I also have a handcrank model 127 that uses the boat shape type of bobbin. It was my first vintage singer that I had ever bought and I only had to pay about $35 for it. (This was about 15 years ago.) I do need to decide what I want to do with it, and I was going to sale it at a yard sale until I handcranked a few seams to make sure it worked properly. It was a dream to handcrank. It was very smooth and worked great. (I didn't put it up for sale as I had planned.) :roll:

I finally decided that I don't want to buy anymore Singers but I have to admit that I've heard very good things about the 201 that I decided I would pick up "ONE" more if I ever find one.
:lol:

Featherweights will sew anything! I have sewn leather/w velcro and my new machine gave me problems. My FW came thru! I love it. Who doesn't like to sew on a beautiful machine. You can also repair them and parts are available!

My mom prefers a 301 to a featherweight bc she feels it has more power for various garment sewing. I' ve not actually sewed a stitch on a fw but I used a 301 - straight seams were so nice, quarter inch mark on the plate - it sewed like a dream.

I've got the same question. I found a Singer, dated 1908, but I don't think it's a featherweight? Should I buy it?

Actually, I didn't buy my Featherweight. Rather, I asked for my mother's and she gave it to me. She had attachments and the wooden card table it fits into for a sewing table. A piece lifts out of the table to accommodate the machine. I did have to have some work done on it as well as replace the cords.

I learned to sew on that machine. It's like working with an old friend!

Mom's father gave her a dowry cow in 1941. For those who might not understand, it was an old English tradition to give a daughter a dowry when she married so she didn't go empty handed to her husband.

This cow was brindle colored. I sat on her when my dad milked it.

When I was 4 years old, electricity came into southern Iowa. My dad, trained after serving in WWII, wired electricity into our home. Mom was so excited! The first appliance she bought was a refrigerator to replace the ice box.

Then, Mom decided to sell that cow to pay for an electric sewing machine so she could make my school clothes, and be able to have the advantage of using a butonholer. The old treadle machine did not do that.

I cried and threw a fit at the thought of selling that cow! I thought there would be no more milk at the table. My dad discussed the issue with me and I sort of accepted the idea when he told me there were other cows on that ranch, and we would still have milk. However, those cows were not tame enough for met to sit upon while being milked.

Mom chose the Featherweight because of the storage case, and being able to put it away when not in use, which was hardly ever the case. Also, she felt that since they moved alot, it would be easy to move.

Oh yes, I have memories of that machine. I can remember Mom patching my dad's canvas overalls using it. I made doll clothes with it.

Since it came to my home, I have taken it to quilting retreats as well as other sewing at home. Also, we've used the card table for playing cards or working puzzles as my mother did.

When in my teens, I discovered I could set the buttonholer on a long length, using the largest buttonhole cam, and make zig zag stitches. Leave it to a kid!

I feel I inherited a tradition in this machine. Thanks, Mom!

A lot of people like to collect them.
If I were looking for a machine I 'd want a machine with more options.

I have a Singer Featherweight (born in 1955) and a Pfaff Expression 2038 and a Bernina 440 QE. Will admit that the Featherweight does not get as much use as the two "modern machines", but I just love "Fern" (Featherweight) for her simplicity (not much can go wrong with these old machines), her outward beauty (I happen to like antiques that connect me with the past) and the perfect straight stitch I can always count on getting when I use my Featherweight for piecing. I like to bring Fern to quilt guild workshops/classes when I know that all I will be doing is straight stitching. Nothing like the soothing "hum" of a Featherweight, in comparison to the noise that modern sewing machines produce ....... sometimes it is just the therapy I need when I feel stressed.

I have always had Singer's. I love the 301 it's a work horse. The featherweight has such a nice comforting sound, not to mention they stitch great and easy to carry around. It's a machine that you can work on and maintain your self.
But I have a little gem that I got at a garage sale for $5. It's a Elna Lotus SP. It is soo cute and I use it more now than my featherweight. It has it's "own" case that's enclosed in. It also zig zags. I get a lot of looks at classes when I bring. I also have a 15 year old Janome Memory Craft 9000. So everybody has their special machines they like. I don't own a Bernina. I have an old Viking. I've been sewing since I was a little girl, hence my avatar. Pam

and the repair bill is cheaper they have less moving parts so they live longer my newer singer is going to cost 145.00 to fix so I"ll wait /save for a new one

I have an old Touch and Sew that my mother had when I was in grade school. I'm now almost 58.I learned to sew on it. It's a great machine, I have all the extras.( cams and all) It's fun to use and brings back such memories. Had to have a gear replaced a couple times.And the timeing of coarse. But I love it.

Because absolutely NOTHING made today comes anywhere near the quality or strength of these grand old machines. They were made to last several lifetimes, which is why they are still going strong and are passed from generation to generation.

I love the precision they have, versus some of the newer machines I've owned that sound like a lawnmower and balk at sewing over 4 layers of thin cotton.

Try it, you'll like it!

I'm 66 and bought my Singer Touch and Sew when we were first married 48 years ago! I stilll use it. When she sews over several thicknesses that a newer machine cannot, I chuckle! It's at my daughter's home where I like to use it still. I put the binding on a feed sack quilt with it. I told her husband, this machine is older than your wife, the feed sacks are older than I am, and we won't talk about my age, so that makes this quilt a true antique! It's probably the last Singer they made with metal gears. Yes, I have all the cams and several attachments. Enjoyed many good years with that machine! I'd like to know where to buy more bobbins?

I was working on a project for someone else today and was having to manipulate the quilt a lot. Got out my 503 and the opening (harp) is actually larger than on my Pfaff. Needless to say, I finished it on my 503. Love my 301 too and use it all the time too.

It's sort of like getting together with an old friend, isn't it?

Yes it is!

You are absolutely right.

I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR A FEATHERWEIGHT FOR A COUPLE YEARS BUT HAD NOT FOUND ONE. tHEN AT CHRISTMAS I WAS AT A LOCAL QUILT SHOP THAT ALSO SOLD BERNINA'S. i LOOKED AT AND TRIED THE BERNETTE 46. wow WHAT A MACHINE! i DON'T MIND TELLING YOU ALL TO CHECK IT OUT - FOR THE PRICE IT REALLY SEWS GREAT, HAD ZIGZAG, HEM STITCH AND WITH ALL THE SPECIAL FEET AVAILABLE IT CAN DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT! lIGHT WEIGHT AND GREAT FOR PIECING AND TAKING TO CLASS, ETC. i HALL IT EVERYWHERE! tRY IT OUT.

Oh Yes! My mother patched Dad's canvas overalls. That's heavy canvas, 4 layers! New machines don't do that.

I love the old Singers, they sew with no complaining. Its unfortunate that the only thing left of the Singer company is the name, the ones made today are of poor quality and don't live up to the name.
The youngest Singer I own is from 1968, only some of the outer parts are plastic, everything else is all metal. My oldest Singer is from 1923. I use all of my machines.
I have 3 featherweights, 2 are black & 1 is tan. I have 3 Singer treadles: 1937 201,1949 15-90 and 237, soon a Singer 66-18 with bad wiring will become a treadle machine.
I have modern machines will all the bells and whistles, when I want decorative stitches.

Of course! Just make sure it has the bobbin case/shuttle. Most of the other parts can be found.

I make thick potholders with my 201K treadle machine,
sewing through 4 layers of cotton batting,2 layers of cotton and also binding. No complaining or horrible noises. Course I put in a size 110/18 denim needle to help things along. :-D

Since I haven't read every single reply my thoughts have probably already been said.

I have a Featherweight for the awesome-est (is that a word?) straight stitch, ease of carrying to wherever, and also to hear the sound that the machine makes. It's like no other. I also have a 501 that will sew through ANYTHING and keep on going.

Like my GE steam iron from 1970, the old machines were built to last.

For the "fancy stuff" I love my Brother 820.

When your computerized machine is in the shop, you'll be glad to have an 'old reliable.'

Thank you! I was wondering what's a big deal about Featherweight I'm sure it awesome having one.

Just so you know, a Singer dated 1908 is NOT a Featherweight. Featherweights were not manufactured until the early 1930's

I wouldn't buy a machine if I didn't intend to use it. I just got my featherweight a couple of weeks ago, and am piecing my first top with it right now! This cute little baby of mine sews a tighter, straighter stitch than my new computerized machine.

I bought a featherweight because I wanted a sturdy but small machine to keep upstairs (my sewing space is in the basement) so that I could do some piece work up here. I hated abandoning my husband every evening to go downstairs all alone. I love my quilting, but love my husband more and wanted to at least share some space with him. This way, we can chat and be together, even if I'm sewing and he's watching TV. I still do all of my cutting and most of my quilting downstairs, but I do the piece work up here. It's also nice because I can sit and sew while the kids are playing or having lunch which I couldn't do before because the baby is still learning his way around solid foods and might choke.

After reading everyone's comments on here about Featherweights, I started looking for one, but always found the price a bit high for me. Then I started reasearching the 301A, and eventually ended up buying one. Right now it's my "backup" machine, but I expect in a few years, when I start attending the guild's sewing weekends and retreats, I'm sure it will come in handy! :-)

You will love the 301. I got rid of my FW in favor of it and I've never regretted it in the least little bit. To me, it's a better machine by far.

We own several of them. My DH sews on the 301 just about every evening. They are very nice work horses and it is not too hard to find parts for most vintage singers as they were so common.

I love my little machine. It goes with me on vacation and to classes. It is so light weight. I also service it myself and have learned all the repair. It is nice because of the great straight stitch and it is simple.

Ain't that the truth... or while you are waiting to save up for repairs on the computerized machine...

I love being able to treadle and piece my quilts when our electricity is out, too. We live in the sticks, and the power goes down quite often. During storms the rural areas are the last priority for repairs, too. We were without juice for 12 days, post-Katrina. If I'd had my treadle then, I would have been happy!

So far, I'm not a featherweight girl. I like the heavier vintage machines. I have a 66, two 201s, and a 403, all Singers. Since I don't go to classes or anywhere else to quilt, I don't need a lightweight portable machine. If I find later that I do, I will look for a 301.

My youngest machine is my trusty Bernina 830-- the original one, all metal and all mechanical. It's got 20 built in sts, 5 utility and 15 decorative. I rarely use any of them but the zig zag, and the blind hem st once in a while. In the past 20 years I have not used the decorative sts at all. My Singer 403 has removable cams to make decorative sts too, but I can see the previous owner rarely touched them.

I guess you have to weigh out the pros and cons of every machine, and maybe own more than one. For me, reliablilty, strength to sew whatever I need it to, and a great looking straight st are the most important concerns. All the bells and whistles would not justify the huge prices of the new computerized machines, for me.

Funny story, I was in the local Bernina shop looking at their Moda fabrics and they had one of their fancy Berninas set up with a giveaway offer. If you would sit down for about 1/2 an hour and let one of their staff demo the machine for you, your name would be entered into a drawing to give that machine away on a certain date. I wasn't even interested enough in the demo to possibly win the machine! I know they thought I was crazy when I didn't take them up on the demo... lol. I guess I could have tried to sell the machine if I won it, but I just didn't want to hear the sales pitch.

I bought a Singer "Redeye" treadle. I love the nostalgia of it, but I also like having having something to sew on if the power goes out! It's like putting a little piece of history in a quilt that is pieced on it. It is neat to think about the lady that must have used this long ago and what her life must have been like. I like knowing that because it is a metal, mechanical machine, it isn't going to wear out. I like my little computerized machine, but my treadle will be sewing long after the electric one dies.

Years and years and years ago (70's) I worked with an semi-retired elderly gentleman who did the accounting in a small insurance office. Turns out he used to be an executive for the Singer company during the 30's thorough 60's. He always bragged about what wonderful machines those early one's were, and bemoaned the quality (or lack of) in the newer models.

I had a consveration with a Singer repairman and he was saying the new models were a piece of junk and he refused to repair them . If you have a older model they were a great machine.

My Featherweight 221, was purchase by my mother, used, in the late 50's and was the first electric sewing machine I used (I was in my teens & in 4H). It's a wonderful machine and I have zig zag and button hole attachments. It is part of the family and gives me a warm feeling every time I use it. It is in my will, to eliminate any arguments.

I have a Singer Slant-O-Matic model 401A.Purchased in 1959 and I love it, sure has saved me lots of money over the years. I think its going to out live me.

I don't have one because money is tight but one day I will buy one of those beauties.

I totally agree with what the Singer repairman said! I used to sell the new Singers...it hurt to sell those. :oops:
I love my old Singers.

I wouldn't trade my FW for anything. I love it, it's a workhorse.I don't have a car so it fits very well on the bus, I do use a cart so I really dont have to "carry" it.