At our recent quilt get together one of the ladies brought in her Singer featherweight...I fell in love with it...I was afraid to ask what she paid for it...Could someone tell me what would be a good price to pay for one? I looked on ebay but they are all different prices.. I see many on this board have one..I don`t want to over pay, but I relly don`t know what would be a fair price...so if any one could give me an idea,I would really appreciate any imput...thank you...

I bid on over 50 of them before i finally won one for $217.00 several years ago. They go for about that to well over $500.00. Hold onto your hat if you want one.

I think I got mine about 2 years ago and if I remember right, I think I paid just shy of $200...and then shipping, but I absolutely LOVE this little machine. I just brought it upstairs after letting it SIT for these 2 years. Oiled it, cleaned it, which I don't think it had ever been cleaned, and it is running like a charm. I have just ordered a quarter inch foot for it, so I can take the tape off the bed, but it is such a smooth little machine. I guess it is the luck of the draw as to the conditon of the machine. I don't think you can go wrong with one if they tell you that the motor is strong, and it stitches well.

If you are diligent enough you can get one for under $100 and in good condition. Just make sure you hit all of the estate sales you can and check CL in your area and you will score one.

I missed one about 3 months ago for $65 and another on for $45 about the same time. One was on CL and the other was at an estate sale. I saw the $45 one at the estate sale ans missed it by 20 minutes. I recognized the case when we we in line checking out and was floored when I saw what was written on the sales slip.

Billy

I found one for 'free'...yep, that is right:)They are out there to be found on a deal. If someone in a family was a quilter, etc and then no one else is...they will be glad to pass it on. The one I have came from a person that paid $25 for it at an auction and then didn't want it a few years later. I did find one and still kick myself for not buying was at a estate sale and it looked new! Case, book, etc...all great..for $200. So, there is a good range...LOL Skeat

I got mine from the my long arm quilter. One of the smartest things I have ever invested in. Paid 275.00. It is in perfect condition. JulieM

thank you...

You can find really good prices on them. I live in the midwest and they go anywhere from $200 to $450. It just depends on how old they are. Singer started making them during the 1930s depression and they continued making them until about 1960 or so. The earlier ones had a fancy faceplate and are worth much more as a collectors item. The later ones could be white, tan, black, or even a pale mint green. They are all workhorses. I think it boils down to how much you are welling to pay and how lucky you get! :-D

Have a joyous holiday season.

There are lots of places to get one. It all depends on how much you want to pay. Prices will vary from seller to seller. I saw one on CL a month ago for $45 but it had no cord/pedal. Carefully read the descriptions of the auctions (if you go that route) like does it work, the condition of the motor, etc..., get the serial # and look it up here http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_numbers.html so you can date the machine and check that it is a 221 model, and look at the details of the machine. Hope this helps!

For anyone in the Worcester, Massachusetts area there is one on Craigslist for $30.00.... http://worcester.craigslist.org/for/1495279428.html

I looked it up with the site that Crafty gave and it was made in 1951. I would go look at it myself but I'm busy today and won't be able to.

The one that I really want to get is a 222K! That would be one of my machines that would never get used. Now if I had to do a repaint I would use it but if not I would put in in my collection and just look at it every time I walked by.

Billy

I paid $500. for mine. It had never been used, but they serviced it completly before I left with it. It works like a charm.
My guy who services me once a year deals with Featherweights as a hobby. He has lots of them, and if you are interested in talking to him I will send his phone no. and name. He would give you a good deal if anyone would.
He is in Carthage, Mo., and it is only 20 mi. from us here in Pittsburg, Ks.
You would love the Featherweight, for lots of reasons!
Martha Tompkins
[email protected]

You can't help but fall in love with them! These little machines are the best. I got both mine (yep 2!) from Craig's list. Paid about $200.00 in great shape. (You'll get hooked real quick!) I was making a flannel quilt and my Janome (Gem) just wasn't doing as good of job on the stitching as I like it to be so I tried my featherweight and it was awesome! It just purrrred and hummmmed all the way. Just as happppeeey as can be! They are the best! Just keep looking and be patient so you get a really nice one!

I got mine on ebay about 3 months ago for $180 with case. It needed cleaning but the scroll work and the machine overall was in excellent shape. I felt I was lucky to get it for that price. I had bid on quite a few before I lucked out.

:shock: :shock: :shock: Alrighty then..............

Billy

:thumbup: :D :D :D

:D :D :D :D

Thank you for all of this information :D :D :D

DH bought one at a yard sale for $75. They thought it was a child's machine. It's a white one with a case. I've been using it lately. The other one, black, we bought at a flea market for $425.00, it has attachment and a case. Both are in excellent condition. I always take old machines straight to a repair shop to be check and oiled.

My husband bought mine from an antique dealer 5 years ago and paid $350. Never had it serviced, runs like a top. I got some estate money in Sept and wanted another one, so I watched them on Ebay, charted the prices for a week. Found out that if you watch to bid on one over the weekend with biding ending in the evening AND if there are other ones up to end bidding close together, you have a better chance of getting one cheep. I grabbed one on a Sat. night for $175. It was filthy when it showed up. Took me hours to clean it and go over it and oil it. The bulb was broke when it came and the tension disc arm was broke and the seller said it run. I took it to a shop to be fixed, emailed the seller and he agreed to pay $25 towards fixing it. So the machine cost me $150 with shipping. I made out. Just watch and ask questions to sellers if machine runs. And sit and watch for one, don't bid until the last 5 seconds and put on the absolute highest you will go, you will get it most likely. There is also a lady and her husband in my area that sells them and she is very trustworthy. If you would like, I can give you her name and phone. This is central PA.

A word of caution-When purchasing one of these machines off the internet or anywhere, make sure it's wired to use in the USA. I speak from experience. You'll freak out when you can't use it. You have to buy some kind of transformer that changes it. It's a real pain. Just my two cents worth.

you are so right. allot are made in great brittan

Boy, I thought I got a good deal on Ebay last year. Mine was a 1941 featherweight 221 with all the accessories in mint condition. I picked it up and paid 250.00. I just love it for traveling to and from my quilting group.

There's another machine you might want to consider-it's the Elna Lotus SP. It's case closes up over the machine and it's a fabulous machine. I own one and have been so happy with it. I was lucky enough to get it at a yard sale for $5.OO. Yes I did say five dollars. I've had it for about 9 years. It also does free motion like a dream. It weighs less than the featherweight. It has a great stitch and it does a zigzag also. It's swiss made. I've never had a problem. Alas I don't have an instruction manual. I've looked on ebay and got a really bad copy of one.

I love my FW. Use it for classes and it runs like a dream.

I also have featherweights--so it's not that I don't know how great they are!!

Found my only quilt shoppe today in Williamsbug, the owner's husband has taken a fancy to these little gems, there were probably 9 of them in the shoppe for sale, starting in the high 300's,-500. All of them looked like new. I can't wait to get mine, but it's going to be awhile, have to save to get her. I did fall in love today. First time I saw one to touch, and probably won't be able to sleep tonight, thinking about which one i'd choose. white, black green, tan.

Have to tell you about my FW. My DH thought I wasn't using it. He gave it to Goodwill, with all the attachments, and a buttonholer. I bought the FW new in 1957. the poor DH has been paying ever since. Like 4 new machines, but not another FW

If it has a "K" after the model number then it came from the Kilbowie Scotland plant and is a "Made in Britain" machine. But some of them are already converted to 110v. Usually if you have to ship it from overseas it will be 220v or what ever the countries standard household power is.

Billy

I have 7 featherweight sewing machines and I have paid from $300 to $500. I plan on selling a couple of them at the beginning of next year. running out of room and can't get to them before Christmas. If they have all the attachment and the paint / gold is good they are usually $450 up. Make sure they have the bobbin case and this is one thing that gets lost and not cheap to replace.

Bought my FW off eBay last March for $300. It's a 1947 with scroll face and runs like a charm. I've already pieced 5-6 quilts with it and absolutely love it.

I have seven FW. One of my basic black ones I got off of e-bay for less than $200. My grand prize is a very rare crinkle or godzilla finished FW that I paid $2000 for. That was a bargain as I have seen them go on e-bay for $5000. I also have a refurbished red one (Jezebel) and a refurbished pink one (Miss Pinky). They are sooooo great for piecing.

Another option for vintage and small are the Kenmore 1030 and 1040. They weigh about the same as a FW (give or take a pound) and have a high "cute factor".

You might also check with different sewing machine dealers. They do take them in on trade for new machines. (People just don't know when they have a good thing.) :mrgreen: We resold them for a little more then we paid in trade. Really some good deals to be had. I got mine for $89 and it was overhauled and new belt and anything else it needed.

wow, I would love to get one