I bought my 1972 Featherweight in 1973, not knowing anything about it.It has its original box, book, and tools. It cost $46. It has suffered the curiosity of two kids and is still my back up machine.I got ripped off by a repair guy once, I think because he knew how much they have sold for. It is the one I hope to carry to DIL's so that I can work on clothes for DGD. I agree about the importance of machine weight when working on completed tops or heavy drapes. I bought a Kenmore for that reason but it's straight stitch is not half as nice.

preserving history I quess...I love mine and you won't find a better straight stitch on any new plastic machine.

Two reasons. Straight stitching and love of old things.

Yes, I'd love to find a featherweight but I do have one of the turqouise Singer machines from the late 60's and also a treadle that I never use. Think I'll oil and polish these up and try them out.

Many of us buy old machines because they are tried and true performers. The featherweights are in a special class since they also don't weigh much and are easy to transport to class or when you are traveling. I have two newer machines a Viking Mega Quilter and a Pfaff 2040, but I will sew on one of my older machines most of the time. All of my old machines are between 30 and 50 years old. They are solid and durable. I usually clean them myself and I can adjust just about anything on them. Now think about the new great plastic machines. The going cost is about $100 to have them cleaned and you better not miss a year. Many of the newer machines have plastic parts that won't last 30 years much less 50 years even if you can get parts. The older "metal" machines by in large you can still get parts for...somethimes older is just better or maybe because I am getting older they don't seem so old.

Some of the vintage machines are almost more like pieces of art. I love the shape and quality of the finish on some of the old machines. The older Singers and Necchis tend to be particular favorites of mine.

I even found a vintage Singer, industrial buttonholer for sale very cheaply on our local Craigslist yesterday that promptly found its way to a new home ;-) I am so excited to see what it will look like with a litle TLC. No, I may never use it for its intended purpose, but the technology behind it is absolutely fascinating to me.

Because they are not plastic, all metal & made with precision & make wonderful stitches & if taken care of they will last forever.

You can't beat the oldies for stitch quality and reliability. They just keep on sewing forever if you just do routine maintenance, which is very easy.
I love my featherweight for classes, portability is a big plus for these little jems.
I took classes from Ray White and learned to love working on the oldies. Now my DH and I find them as reasonably as we can (sometimes for free), fix them up and give them to women who can't afford to buy a machine. It has become a ministry for us and keeps us off the streets - which in your 70s is a good thing, lol. Right now we have 2 old Kenmores we are just about ready to find a home to keep them sewing.
And the old treadles - what fun it is !!!!

If you are close enough to anyone who owns a Featherweight ask if you can sew a few pieces on it. You'll then understand why some of us love them. They are tough little work horses and sew over the thickest seams.

Well said! I don't have a FW yet, but am looking for one to follow me home. I got my 1919 Singer treadle for $20 and a portable hand crank Serata given to me by a friend when she saw my interest in vintage machines. I love the way they sew! Beautiful straight stitches. They are out there at good prices, so I will wait. After using the hand crank, I'm not in any hurry...I will probably take it to my quilt group. I think they are just beautiful. They were made to last, not to be replaced.

In addition to the FWs, I have a Pfaff from the 7500 line, often called the best machines ever made by Pfaff. Not very old, certainly not vintage, but a specimen of perfect Pfaff quality from Pfaff's heyday in the same way that vintage Singers represent an era of quality that no longer exists. Also have an amazing, precise, workhorse, boat-anchor of a Bernina from 1982 or so, but Bernina still makes those ;) I'd love a 1912 Singer treadle, a Pfaff 130, and maybe a 301...

Find a Featherweight in good condition, sew on it, and you will have your answer! A lot of it is nostalgia...many of us remember these machines and learned to sew on them. I have two, but don"t get me wrong, I love my modern machine that lifts the pressure foot, cuts the thread, etc.
Michelle G.
El Paso

Go on Ebay and watch the auctions. Eventually you will luck out on a good buy on a good machine like I did. I paid $182 for mine and it is in excellent condition.

Now I could handle $182 for a good condition machine. I checked there but there are so many bidders.

I have a Singer black head machine. It was manufactured in '53. It will sew through thick layers when the automatic tension on my "good maching" won't kick in because the presser foot can't go down far enough to engage the tension. I also use mine to sew blocks when I'm embroidering with the other machine....

I absolutely love my featherweight. I have it set in our family room, and sew on it during tv time.
It gives a beautiful stitch, I can take it to quilt days in our guild. It is light weight, and almost indestructible.
It was worth $500 when I bought it 7 yrs. ago. They are a lot cheaper now, for whatever reason.
They are also a nice antique. Mine was made in 1942 so I can feel as though passing it to one of my daughters will be a nice gift someday.
Wouldn't be without it!!
Mariah.

My tech. has quite a collection he sells after being re-conditioned. He is in Carthage, Mo., if you are interested in one. He has good prices on them, also.
Mariah.

Because they sew awesome.

I have my Mom's. ♥

What I am seeing here is that I need to move! The older machines in the Portland Oregon area are alot more spendy than in other areas of the country it seems!

I want one to take to classes. I have a heavy Bernina and there have been times that I would not take a class because of the weight of the Bernina.

I too love my old machines. No Featherweight yet....one day maybe. I have recently gotten a Rocketeer and let me tell you that thing is a piece of beauty! It sews wonderfully. Does all the decorative stitches I need, and it free motion quilts so easily! I was like wow! this is actually easy! My newer Kenmore that did embroidery and stitches (and is now dead) would never fmq and did not stitch as nicely. And like another poster said the stability of one of these in a cabinet is wonderful. Plus there is just some connection to women that lived before us and sewed on these machines. i sit down at my treadle and it just makes me feel closer to my Grannie and great Grandmother.....this was like the machine they sewed on.

I have 2 featherweights and bought them because they are easy to take to classes/guild. They also sew a fantastic straight seam. By the way there is a place that is manufacturing new "featherweights". Not sure where I saw that posted probably on the Vintage Machine site.

of my 12 mAchines only 2 would be concidered newer, my Pfaff serger and my Pfaff 2056,
3 Pfaff 7570's are from the 90's so to me that is fairly new. my little Pfaff hobbymatic is from the 70s I think,
2 FW 221's from the 50s, and a singer rocket 503A from the 50s and the last are 3 Wilcox & Gibbs chain stitch machines from 1890's

My son bought a farm with an old house. Upstairs he found 2 FW's in cabinets. Mine is an old Singer. DIL's is a White. My husb refinished cabinets on them and they are beautiful.

OOPS....I'm realtively new here, and think I m,ay have confused featherweights with treadles, which is what I was talking about. What's the diff?

featherweights are electric and are very lightweight compared to a treadle. If you google them both you'll see the differences. I don't have a fw but my treadle is HEAVY!

The saying, "They don't build them like they used to" applies to Singer and Featherweights. The machining of the parts, the casting of the head, the precision of the gears,etc. That is one of the main reasons for owning older Singers from the 30's and 40's. Additionally they quit making those models so of course they are in demand for their quality. I cannot comment on any other manufacturer as I have owned my Singers for 50 plus years.

I am finding that true in Central OR as well!

I have my mom's 301A and I absolutely love it! It runs so beautifully. I wouldn't trade it for any other machine!

I always wanted one as I grew up using one my mother had. She gave it to my sister when she died, so I decide to get one for myself. I ended up with a Brothers from the 1960's that cost me nothing (my daugher bought it for my Christmas present last year). Then my husband found a Japanise 15 clone for $10.00. I found a Featherweight. You know it gets to be havit forming just looking for them.

They run like work horses! Just got my 1st FW in January and it was love at 1st sight. She was born in 1948. Before going to see her I decided on a FW because they are so well made and sew a beautiful 1/4" seam. I didn't expect her to be in such great shape but she was. She was well loved and cared for by her previous owner. The lady who owned her bought her in the 1950's and used her ever since.

I also have an old treadle machine. It really does nice straight seams. Gives me a nice trip down memory lane when I use it. I learned to sew on a treadle machine.

I love my old machines but have been spoiled buy my new one with its needle threader and such. When I get back to piecing I am going to open up my 201 and do the straight stitches on that. And if I ever get a chance to take a class I am taking my 301 my friend gave me for Christmas.
Before I got my Brother I used the vintage machines exclusively since that is all I could afford. And being able to fix them myself is a plus money wise.

I have one called a Household that I bet could sew car upholstery without a wimper. If not the car bumper.:-)
But try to tell this kind of stuff to the new sewist coming along that wants all the bells and whistles. :-) (for $50. lol I had one girl in GA ask for a Bernina on Freecycle)

My Featherweights have rescued me at times when my Janome was being stubborn. I always take the FW to day long workshops if we're just sewing straight seams. The motors are powerful, they never hesitate at thick seams or balk when you go over quilt seams. In fact, they will sew leather and tough fabrics with ease. They are easy to operate and care for as well. So lightweight and easy to transport. I have all the attachments made and found them easily on Ebay and finally ordered a couple from a gentleman in North Carolina who uses the name Featherweight Poppy. He's been a tremendous help; very honest and up front with his opinions and information.

My 221 Featherweight is so light and portable, plus it looks adorable too. I bought mine from a guy who repairs old Singer 221's in England and my machine acts like new. I know I paid more, but I have a machine that runs like a dream with no problems. If you're interested in seeing his (highly recommended)site, it's here: http://singer-featherweight.com/

Graham Forsdyke is one of the leading authorities on Antique sewing machines!! You picked a winner when you bought from him! He's recognized the world over for his knowledge.

Graham is very knowlegable to say the least. He belongs to the group that I learned how to clean and repair my machine from. I have since gotten away from it but he always gives great advice and from what I have seen on the group is a very nice person.He even mailed me a part for one of my machines from his home. I love his stories too. Here is the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.ismacs.net/grahams_true_s...s_listing.html

My Featherweight is simple to service myself, will most likely outlive any and all of my present and future computerized machines, and has a beautiful straight stitch.

A friend gave me a featherweight along with the table and I'm very proud to have it. I haven't had the time to learn to sew on it yet. My favorite sewing machine in a 1973 Kenmore that's has reached the stage it can't be repaired anymore, but I'm still using it as much as I can.