We found a little black box at the landfill . Brought it home and inside ....is a Singer featherweight sewing machine ! But she is missing the foot control . She needs a good cleaning .
I have a question for people that have these machines . Can attachments for a singer treadle work on featherweights ? This is model 221 , made May 24 , 1938 in Elizabeth . N. J. Any information would be helpful . Annie

what a find!
here's a yahoo group
[email protected]

there are people on the list who can answer ALL of your questions - from how to clean the machine safely so as to not hurt the finish, to supply you with needed items etc

you can search yahoogroups for 221, or featherweight

have fun

hopefully you have the bobbin case... that's expensive (@50 ) but if the machine was free who cares!

What an awesome find!!!! Lucky You :D :D :D

OMG! With a case too! How great is that!!!! I think you will be able to get a replacement foot control. I'm sew happy for you! :lol: :lol: :lol:

What a beauty....sorry, I can't offer any specific advice regarding the Singer but you certainly made a wonderful find!

What a lucky find, image throwing something like that away.

Thanks for the help , I will most definitely check out the links :lol: . The bobbin case is there with 4 bobbins . I did notice that the feed dogs are a little rusted. I haven't tried to clean her up yet . Got all excited over our " find ". I can't imagine someone throwing it away either !!! :mrgreen: I guess whoever did thought it was just old junk ! Well not to me . I used to sew on my Grandmother 's treadle sewing machine . So I dearly admire these old machines :thumbup: They are sure built to last , not like these new plastic ones :mrgreen:
Loretta I didn't dig in the trash , was sitting right in front . It pays sometimes to investigate old boxes and cases .

Annie

WOW!!!
What a great treasure you found!

Oh! What a wonderful find!
Congratulations!
C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e !!!! :!: :!: :!: :!:
(I need a smilie with some confetti! There is a lot to celebrate on this site, eh?)

I can't believe anyone would throw one of these away. Of course, I am a sucker for old sewing machines. Lucky You!

Wow, what a find. I'm sure they didn't know what they were throwing away.

I have two Featherweights that belonged to my mom and grandmother. I saw this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjYlrJ-YLSA
and ordered the book and DVD from:

http://www.featherweightrx.com
My little machines are all spiffed up and humming along and it was really EASY to do. Didn't even have to ask my husband (who's a total Mr. Fix-it) for help.
You can get just about any part you need from:

http://www.221parts.com

I'm just floored that you found that where you did. What a wonderful find!!! Congratulations...you're gonna love her.

Minstrel

sounds like they had some idea, that somebody else might like it, but dropping off at a landfill?
must have been a man...
sorry, guys,...not all men would do that. That is why, we complain about the hubs, but, deep down, your our treasures too! :wink:

People don't know what they have so often. Even in that condition I bet you could get $100.00 if you were so inclined

Oh and yse you most certainly can get the foot pedal. My LQS got me a new one for the one I bought on Ebay.

Wow!!!! How exciting for you!!!!!! :D :D

Every once in awhile I cruise the thrift stores - - especially senior citizen thrift stores ... there are some real classics ... maybe not the featherweight types <g> but, I keep hoping! LOL
Your find just tickles me, and my enthusiasm for looking for gems is renewed.

Wow!!!

OMG you are one lucky girl! What a great find! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Congratulations! I just bought one off eBay several months ago and am thrilled with mine. They have lots of parts on eBay if you're looking for a foot pedal....

What a wonderful find!

A Singer service center might be able to get it up and running.

:D :D :mrgreen: :D Wow :D :mrgreen: What a treasure! I have one and love it. If you can't find a foot controller, I have a contact. PM me and I will give it to you. You can even get a replacement instruction book, not original, a copy. If the feed dogs aren't good, you may be able to get replacements for those and even the tension assembly.
If you have a local Singer dealer within 50 miles, it would be worthwhile to contact them for help. :D

I would have to drive away and leave it...we are not allowed to touch :cry: I say thers good stuff in that dump :D I'm green :mrgreen:

Now I wanna go treasure hunting :(

Beautiful find you have there :)

It's very surprising what some people throw away ! I would never throw that baby out ! She's here to stay . I joined the vintagesingers group at yahoo . Wow , got a repair manual already .

Thank you to everyone's helpful links and well wishes :lol: I will be seeing if I can get her sewing . Need to order the foot control .Maybe a while , money is very tight . I'm out of work and can't find a job . I need that " will work for fabric job ! "

Annie

Enjoy!!! What a find!!!

Wow, what a treasure you found!!

David McCallum has a book and DVD on the care and maintenance of FWs. http://www.featherweight221.com/

I've ordered a maintenance kit (which includes a belt, drip pan felt, screwdrivers, needles, felt washers (for the spool pin), oil and lube) and a new cord set and a new pedal from http://www.221parts.com/

I have 3 FWs - a black 1939, a Centennial model (1951) and a white 1950's.