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  • When and where did you get your Featherweight?

  • When and where did you get your Featherweight?

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    Old 03-07-2011, 07:54 AM
      #51  
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    I have 3 of them and love and cherish each one of them. I have a 1948 and 2 Centennials. As much as I love them all I am ready to part with one of the Centennials so I can have the other repainted. It is a totally complete set of everything + buttonholer, zigzagger, screwdriver set and more. IMHO she sews like a dream. Shouldn't need any work. Followed Lostn51 (Billy)'s tutorials She runs great and looks great. It's probably out of price range for most, but if interested PM me.
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    Old 03-07-2011, 07:55 AM
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    Oh, and I got my FW when my MIL passed. The case and handle have seen a lot of action, the machine not so much.
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    Old 03-07-2011, 07:57 AM
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    I got mine at the antique mall in Albuquerque. Seems like about twelve years ago. It has a store label on it from California and I don't think it had hardly ever been used. Love it.
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    Old 03-07-2011, 08:20 AM
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    I saw people using them at Quilt Guild and fell in love with them. I bought by black FW in 2010 on e-bay and my tan/turquoise this year on e-bay. I use them both constantly-probably more than I do my 2 Berninas. My DH often asks me why I use those old machines when I have so much money tied up in new equipment. LOL
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    Old 03-07-2011, 09:04 AM
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    I've had 2 featherweights. I bought both around 10 years ago. The first one was at a thrift store and it had no electric cord. But I knew it would work or could be fixed, so I bought it for $40.00, bought a electric cord for around $20.00. Turned it on, and worked perfectly.
    The second one I got at an Estate Sale. I asked if they had any sewing machines and they said "There's one in a little black case somewhere". My heart starting racing and I looked under a table and there it was. I asked how much and the lady said, "Its a very nice machine and I have to get $25.00 for it."
    Needless to say, I bought it. I have since given the first one to a friend. Still have the other one. Love to take to classes & retreats. Never any trouble, sews perfect stitches.
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    Old 03-07-2011, 09:37 AM
      #56  
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    Mine is an odd story. We travel in an'89 VW camper. About 10 years ago, our transmission died in Angleton, Tex (we live in Ga). Wound up parked in a Motel 6 (they take cats) with a rental car. Lots of antique stores to keep us occupied. Found a FW in one. Couldn't get it to sew. Went to a LQS and bought Nancy Sebro-Johnson's FW book, read it, called a local woman the LQS owner recommended, talked about it. Went back next morning. Still couldn't get it to sew ...didn't want $125 doorstop. As we were debating, a man who said he'd done a lot of business sewing machine repair said that nothing was warped, to go for it and we did. Her decals are almost worn off, the case is musty and worn, but after a trip to the mechanic...she sews like a charm. I have collected almost all the attachments, I even found a penguin walking foot recently, altho I have yet to try it.

    And we got our transmission bussed from friends in Atlanta on Greyhound after about a week. Picked it up at the local bus station which was a restaurant so we got a taco and a transmission all at once. And BTW, we just put yet another transmission in the Van...
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    Old 03-07-2011, 09:39 AM
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    As far as I know 1964 was the last year they made the 222K (free-arm model). The 'experts' who would know are info@april1930's.com I read something that the 221 was discontinued around the early 70's.
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    Old 03-07-2011, 12:15 PM
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    Haven't gotten one yet but am looking!
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    Old 03-07-2011, 12:18 PM
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    I first saw a featherweight when a member of my quilt guild in Phoenix brought one to show and tell. I watched the paper and looked at yard sales for years thinking I would never find one. One day I spotted an ad in the paper for a yard sale the next day where a man had two of them for sale. I drove by his house and explained that I had been looking for one for a long time but that I had to work during the time of his sale and would he please consider selling one before the sale time. He invited me in and let me take my choice of machines. That was in 1995. I believe I paid about $200.00 for it but was glad to finally have one to call my own. It wasn't two weeks later that my daughter and I stopped at a yard sale that was on it's second day. My daughter said "Mom, is this the little sewing machine you have been looking for?" I'll be darned if she hadn't found a little white featherweight in the green and white case. The lady having the sale said she was the original owner and that her parents had purchased the machine for her when she went away to college. I couldn't believe that it had been out there the day before and no one had purchased it. I didn't have enough money in my purse to buy it so I told my daughter to sit on the machine and pull her skirt down over it so no one else would see it while I went to an ATM to get some money. I told the lady I was leaving her there for collateral. I swiftly drove down to the corner bank and withdrew a whole $30.00 to pay for it. That was the total price on that one. I found a little black one about 4 years ago at a yard sale also. My daughter has already spoken for the little white one when I am gone. I think she appreciates it for the story more than the machine but it will be hers someday.
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    Old 03-07-2011, 12:22 PM
      #60  
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    I own four Featherweights. The first one is a black 1947 that I bought on Ebay. The second one I bought was a white 1964 one I bought on the Goodwill website. Then I bought a 1949 black one on Ebay because that was my birthyears. Later I bought a 1951 Centennial black one. Now I'm looking for a FW 222, which is a free arm. They all sew beautifully. I think I just got bitten by the bug and can't quit collecting them. I thought I wanted to sell one, but when I actually got it out, I couldn't part with it. Pathetic! I also have a Singer 301 black that sews very well too.
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