QuiltE

You're getting me intrigued ... I'm going to start inquiring as to the fix-it side of it all. That is, see if anyone in my area works on them as I'd want it to have a good go-over before I started.

Particularly the electrical part!!!

irishrose

99s, 127s and 128s are 3/4 size machines, but are not lightweight. My 128 weighs 29 pounds. She does have a bentwood case. 301s have the flip up extension and weigh 16 pounds, but they look nothing like a little FW, nor would the case be bentwood. There isn't much to the maintenance if the electrical is good.

QuiltE

IrishRose ... So, are you saying all FWs would be in the black squarish case? where would I look for the model #?

irishrose

http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_numbers.html for the date of manufacture and model using the serial number.
I don't have a FW, but I know they have the model number, which will be 221 or 222( more rare), on a little plate on the pillar. The serial number for more info will be around somewhere - probably underneath like the 301. That's the one used for dating. My 128 has a plate embedded in the bed with the serial number visible from the front of the machine, but no model number anywhere.

I think all FWs except the white one came in a black case. The white FW's case is aqua.

Shelbie

Not all featherweights had the model number on them. Previous to about 1956 it was not included. My 1958 model has it while my 1950 featherweight does not. All black featherweights came in the black squarish suitcase type box with flip up hinges that lock. The white featherweights came in gray or turqoise heavy vinyl cases or two tone tan/green rectangular cases. Only featherweights and 301'a have flip up machine beds (to access the bobbin and store it in the case). The size of the machine, the case and the flip up bed are all sure fire ways to identify a featherweight. You may see them advertised as feather lites (no such thing) or old Singers in a suitcase.

greenini

If you're still in the beginning stages of FW mania, I recommend you get a copy of Nancy Johnson-Sebro's book Featherweight 221 The perfect portable. It has a lot of info including a chart of manufacturing dates and info about the different colors and manufacturing sites and "eras". There is basically a copy of the original book with how to use the accessories that are common such as the ruffler, edger, tucker, gatherer,binders, hemmers (wide and narrow) and also common issues like how to thread, how the bobbin loads, etc. I couldn't decide if my FW was a good deal, we bought this book the night we saw it, read it from cover to cover, went back and bought her. Never been sorry.

ewecansew

I would recommend Nancy's book as well. I have a white/green FW in the soft side case. I have never seen another one in that type of case. By the way, I bought it for $10 at a garage sale and $20 for the black one at the same sale. I gave them $40 for both.

sewbizgirl

If you go back and get the serial number off that machine (or call and have the shopkeeper get it for you), you can look it up on the singer site and find out just exactly which model it is... and the year it was made. It's possibly an even better machine than the 221 (Featherweight). The bentwood cases are lovely. Here is where you can look up the serial number:
http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_numbers.html

twinkie

If the case was domed shaped and it was a little smaller than a full size machine, it would probably have been a Singer 99 which is referred to as a 3/4 machine. It is much heavier than the Featherweight. Also the 128s came in those domed cases and some Model 27's. The domed wooden case was popular for many older Singer models. As far as I know, all black Featherweights were in the black boxed cases.

violetsfarm

I saw one like yours in the picture at a local flea mkt, it has the case, and a table for $175. I thought it was too high of a price?