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!