My first was found on Craig's list and she came from WA. I did everything over the phone with the sellers husband that didn't know anything about sewing machines. It was a unique experience asking my questions and trying to get him to understand them! Waiting for my first to arrive was like waiting for a baby to be born. I had waited for so long for a Featherweight and finally. It was trucked to me from WA to Portland so I had to wait overnight for it to arrive and boy was that the longest night of my life!! When I went to pick her up the gentleman was looking all over for this big sewing machine. When he finally came back with this smaller box, saw the excitement on my face, he helped me open it right then and there in the parking lot! Oh was I on another cloud for the rest of the day! This one has the straited plate.
My second was adopted from Craigs list. A very nice young lady was selling her grandmothers and my heart hurt for her. She didn't use her and said she needed the money! But she did say she wanted it to go to a good home and she new I would take care of her. She has a scroll plate.
Then my lil' white came along from Craigs list again! My third one-this one didn't run as quiet as the other ones. It had a clicking noise when it was sewing and the light had been repainted-bad paint job! I debated with this one-but only for a minute. Should I or shouldn't I? Besides Ebay I hadn't seen many whites for sale in my area. I truly felt it was something minor so home we both went! When I got home my husband listened to it and immediately found what was wrong. One of the parts was rubbing on the metal plate so little tweaking to the metal plate and she was as quiet as the other ones! I soon found a new white light and he changed it out for me. Another beautiful addition to the family.
I found my fourth one at an estate sale - once again advertised on Craig list. I arrived a little after opening and I thought for sure it would be gone. Went right up to the cashier and ask if the Featherweight had been sold? But it was still there. She pointed to her and immediately I knew it was mine. It was so packed with lint I felt so bad. I did turn it on and try to sew with it but once again my heart hurt- I felt like it had been abused! Crazy I know! Keeping the lint out was not a priority for the previous owner. Once again my fourth precious one and I were on our way home. She has a scroll plate.
Then onto my Centenial-just waiting for me once again. I had seen the listing on Craig's list and just couldn't bring myself to pay the price they were asking. But time went on and the listing wasn't going away! So one day heading over to Fabric Depot I called the number in the ad and it was still there. So I went over and took a look. We had to plug it in on the drive way and do everything outside-which I thought was odd! As soon as we plugged it in it started to run on it's own. Scarry-but I new it was a wiring problem and it was an easy fix. It had a few issues, the light bulb was broken in the socket and she didn't have a case. Low and behold I wasn't really interested at this point. So I explained to the seller my feelings and how I didn't want to offend her but I was only willing to pay $70.00 for it. She jumped at it and said I just want someone to use it and appreciate it and take care of it! That would be me! So off I went fabric shopping - once again on another cloud!
After I found my first one I had no intentions of purchasing more! It just happened! I couldn't spend much and just kept watching the paper and everywhere I would go. They were all purchased in the my low price range and they are all beautiful and in excellent shape.