I was wondering if you would buy a Featherweight that was in poor condition? The one i speak of is scratched up, missing some of the gold detail, and the biggest concern is that the belt has almost totally disintegrated and may or may not have gunked up the motor? It powers on and you can see the "thingy" spin but due to the belt's condition is does not move. Is $95 too much?

I would probably buy it. Belts can be replaced easily enough, and with a good cleaning it just might turn out to be a great little machine.

buy it you can fix it with the tutorials here. $95 is a great deal! I have seen them for over 450$

Featherweights in poor condition still fetch close to $200 around here. I can't imagine that a belt would be very expensive.

Might be worth the risk, especially if you can take it to someone that repairs/refurbishes Featherweights.....Good Luck!

I paid $125 for mine with no guarantee it would ever work, but $65 later she purrs like a champ. Her decals are dim, her case is rough and I just finally got all the odor out this weekend, but I love her and would think yours will be fine too with just a tune up!

I think body condition is the most important...if bad..I'd take a pass..Ck out ebay and see what they go for...tons on there and for a few $ more might get one in better condition

I would not give more than $50 for it in that condition..it takes a lot of money to get them repaired and made to look good again...is there a case, attachments, etc???

Interestingly to me, body condition is less important, as long as it wasn't battered. Mine has some of the decals missing on the front where it probably got a lot of use. And probably has some good stories to tell if it could. I would think it could be made workable again and $95 is a good price based on what I've seen on ebay and I bought the only one I ever saw in person at a flea market for $150 (he was asking $190). It didn't have a case but did have a bobbin case and I have lots of attachments from vintage singers that fit. My repair guy charged me about $50 to oil, lube, give a once over and fix the bobbin winder gasket. I'm tickled with it..

I know of one in TX that is MINT for $325, in a case with attachments! I mean MINT..better than some of the refurbished ones I have seen at shows...

Worst case you could "part out" the featherweight for more than $95 -- that is, dissassemble the parts and sell them individually online.

However, chances are good it would simply need a new belt.

Had to replace the belt on my FW a few weeks ago. Belt was $10 and they charged me 12.50 to put in on.

I'd buy it. :thumbup:

I would.

I'd buy it for that price.

Yep, I would but then my dh can fix anything!

Yep, I would but then my dh can fix anything!
Oops! didn't mean to double post, but I would still buy it!

There really isn't a lot to go wrong with a Featherweight. They have all metal parts, no plastic. Belts are not a problem. Mine wouldn't pick up the bobbin thread and the repair and cleaning only cost $35.00. I'd go for it!

There really isn't a lot to go wrong with a Featherweight. They have all metal parts, no plastic. Belts are not a problem. Mine wouldn't pick up the bobbin thread and the repair and cleaning only cost $35.00. I'd go for it! They can be repainted but that gets expensive. If you want it for sewing and taking to classes a few scratches don't matter as long as it purrs.

I would grab it in a heartbeat. I got mine last week for 150 and the gal was not sure it worked. The cord was a little frayed and it was dirty. I gave the cord to my hubby and he fixed it up. I cleaned it up and oiled and greased it and now it runs like new.

I don't think you can go wrong on any Featherweight, unless it was ran over and smashed.

I would buy it! They are very very easy to get to work and you can clean and maintain them easily. If you want to use and enjoy it, who cares if some of the decals are worn off. I found mine at the curb.

For that price I certainly would buy it. It wouldn't cost all that much to have it humming along. Featherweights are so popular that the prices are still quite high especially for a so called mint condition one. Course there are the few lucky people that have found them for virtually nothing but for most of us don't find those.

Basically it just depends on your available funds and the ability to have it tuned up, electrical cords checked, etc. But if you've wanted one forever, then I'd go for it. Quite possibly the needle isn't placed in the machine properly and their may be minor issues that are easily fixed. Finding the belt isn't a problem at all. The are easily available. Did you try to post this to Billy our expert on vintage machines? Any concerns you have would be addressed honestly and accurately by him. Plus all the other people on the board that have them and have faced the same issues you are concerned about. Post on the Vintage Sewing topic area and you'd be amazed at the help you'd find there.

I would buy it in a heartbeat.

I don't think you can get hurt on this. They can be pretty high and probably it might just need a good cleaning and new belt and some TLC it sounds like. I think you would be happy with the end result.

we have a little quilt shop/vac center that repairs machines. I'd buy it fix it up and then you have a sturdy little forever machine.

Me too but would offer less and see if they would take it because of the condition. You may be surprised. I would not be afraid of the condition, those machines never quit. Good luck.

I would go for it. My repairman says the only thing that breaks down is the motor will eventually wear out and can replace for a little over $100. I would have mine replaced in a heartbeat. Ive replaced my belt for $10 and put it on myself.

I am not sewing machine savvy other than knowing that this is a great sewing machine with metal parts so there is definitely value in it. It’s a simple machine. My DH compares it to working on an older car, they were easy to fix in comparison to today’s cars. You could post this question here http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-43881-1.htm and check with your sewing machine repair person to get their input. So many on here have gotten FW’s that weren’t working and brought them back to working condition and were very happy. It could be something simple that is an easy fix. Here is another link about FW’s you might find helpful
http://singerfeatherweight221.blogsp...herweight.html I got my 1st FW in January of this year and am very happy with her. I paid $225 and she was in great shape. Had my sewing machine repairman take a look at her and she was just fine :) She purrs like a kitten and sews a beautiful straight stitch. I wouldn’t let a couple scratches on her or missing gold detail stop me from getting her.

I can't believe someone kicked her to the curb! Glad you found her.

If you decide not to buy it, I would be happy to.

How did you get the odor out? I have a white one and the case handle needs to be replaced but the odor comes and goes.
Any suggestions? :)

So, how did you get the odor out of the FW? The odor comes from a mold that grows in the glue used to keep the black covering on. This only happens, by the way, in the cases that were made in the U.S., so I have been told. The only way I have found to eliminate it was to completely remove the covering, sand the wood down, then recover it. It would be good to hear if your method worked as a permanent fix.

Terry -- in Northern Delaware

Go for it. Featherweights are the easiest to work on yourself. There are many books and online videos to help with that. I do believe that there is a group on here that caters to old machines.

And where in Texas is that??? ;-)

If you want a great extra sewing machine, grab it and have it serviced. You won't regret it.

I'm not sure how much value would be lost if some of the gold is missing.

I would buy it in a heartbeat! Mine was purchased on Ebay and through the tutorial, I took it all apart, cleaned it, lubricated it and replaced the felt oil catcher in the bottom. Parts are readily available and they almost never become totally broken. My total cost was under $200. As to the cosmetic look....it will still purr when serviced. Go for it.

For $95 dollars I would buy it and restore it.

You can buy a belt online. Google what you want or look on Ebay. They are not expensive. When I first got my Featherweight it needed a new belt to make it run properly. Not it purrs like a kitten.

Not true they are very easy to work on and DH & I do all my service and repairs. It is worth $100 as is.

Just for your info. I recently went to an auction because a Featherweight was advertised. I thought maybe I could buy it and make a few bucks selling it. I already have a white Featherweight that I would never part with. So much for a bargain. A lady paid almost $700 for it. I ask her why so much and she said I collect them.