1955 Singer Featherweight
 

Is $260 including shipping too much to pay for one in good working order, box and accessories included. I'm interested in owning a Featherweight. Is this year a good one to collect. I've got the bug for one.

I don't own one yet....I've been looking around here.
Wish I knew someone that had a very nice one for sale.

Featherweights seem to come in all prices. If you are willing to spend that, and it's a 100% complete working machine, go for it. That does seem to be about the going average rate. Deals can be had if you are patient and search.

I understand the bug, it's Christmas! Go for it!

I have 2 1955s and I love them. The price is right I think.

Why are Singer FWs worth more than a Singer 99 or a Singer 66 or a Singer 201 or a Singer 15 or a 301? Most of the same people on here won't spent more than $10 for a mint shape afore mentioned won't hesitate to spend $275 or $300 on a FW - I'm at a loss.

I'm not sure what other's have to say, but I think it's the overall cuteness of the Singer Feather Weight that gets the bigger response.

What isn't cute about a Singer 66 redeye?

I'm with you Miriam. FWs are cute, they'll sew up a tire, and you can pick em up with one hand. However, I'll would take the 201 or 15 long before the 221.

Oh, it's adorable too...sorry. :) Didn't mean to imply it wasn't. Just like it more personally.

If you have the bug I say go for it!!!

Miriam I''m with you.
I wouldn't turn down a featherweight if the price was right but I'm not about to pay $200 and up for one either. Yes, they are cute but they are so small that in my opinion you lose some of the utility of a larger machine. I think the other machines make more sense. The Singer 301 machines tend to be inflated in price compared to the other machines too though not as bad as the featherweights. From what I've seen online they use the same bobbin as the featherweights which for some reason sell for $30 and up as opposed to $10 or less like most machines.
I haven't got my grubby fingers on one yet but the aluminum 99 clones like the Sewmor 303 that Joe has seem like they would be a good bet for a lightweight, useful vintage machine.
My two cents,
Rodney

Featherweights are cool, hip, vintage, retro, and 15 pounds. People want them thus they are going to pull more money. Period. $150-$250 seems to be the average based on area and whatnot, I would not tell someone to turn their nose up at the average price. I would deter them from $400+ however.

I would rather have a 201 but that's me.

It's supply and demand - plain and simple.

You put a FREE Featherweight on this board, and see how many people contact you for it

Put a FREE 66 on this board - and you may not get any.

Now the real craziness is with attachments. As most people on this board know, with one or two expections - if it fits a 66 (excluding back clamp) It's going to fit a FW!! and all the Singers in between . . .

Yet people with Featherweights will pay 3X as much for the exact same item if the Seller shows it attached to a FW instead of a 66.

I bought a FW because I'm a Singer fan- and it was one of the most expensive Singers I've bought - way overpriced if I compared it to something like a mint condition 1895 28 in a Gothic style case with an original hand crank.

If the Quilt Clubs get into a machine, then the price is going to go up, as there are a lot more Quilters out there than Singer machine collectors.

Well, I'm the proud owner of the 1955 Featherweight. I hope it was worth it, and I'm sooooo excited to see her and clean her up. I was born the same year so we already have lots in common as well as a few age spots! LOL
And thanks for all the advice and comments!!

Maybe it is a bout memories for me, too - night mares.....

light weight, easy to take for all on the go classes, retreats, guild meetings, vacation ect.ect. easy and small to store, nice stitches, and so dang cute!! Have 5 of them, gave one of my white ones to one of my 4H students and gave my sister a black one, so down to just 5 Singer FW I love mine!

you're giving away FWs. that's so nice of you. i have one purchased not too long ago and would like to get another one. but i am looking for a good price. over 200 is way too much for me.

I have a 99, a 101, 2 15-91s, a 27, a 127, and 4 221s. .... and other non singers as well. Featherweights are an investment at this point and $250-$300 seems to be the going rate. I buy them when I can get them for a good price but I paid $280 for my first one..... I had the bug.

And I love my FWs. They do sew a great stitch. They make the most soothing sound as they sew. They are easy to take with you to a sewing day with the gals..... and they are cute. I do a lot of piecing with the 221s, but, I don't do much quilting with mine..... not enough sewing space for a larger quilt. I don't do zig-zag even though I have that attachment. I can tell you that while they are all good machines, I like some of my FWs better than others. Actually, I think that using them makes them sew better. They settle in to be my 'go to' machine.

So, if you want one, go get it. You'll enjoy it and if you decide you want something different, I can't see them getting a lot cheaper. You can sell it and get your money back.

Congratulations, I hope you have fun with your new machine. I was lucky last week to buy 2, both had rather a lot of thread caught underneath. Thanks to this board and other sites I was able to clean and remove the thread. They both sew beautifully.

That thread caught underneath way the issue I always had with the FW - even if you stop start with the needle all the way up those and the 301 machines tend to do that frequently. They are harder to clean out the knots than some of the other machines.

I totally disagree IMHO anyway. I do not think a redeye is cute - to me, they are absolutely BEAUTIFUL & I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find a decent one here in Canada.

How much would you expect to pay?

Interesting demographic observations: In Canada, Elnas must have been imported in spades in the 50s, for they are a dime a dozen now.

In Upper Canada, one never/RARELY, however, sees Pink Atlases, Davis, Red Eyes, Minnesotas, and a number of others which show up often in USA.

Very interesting to me, that! Just to think of the demographic of purchase and distribution in the bygone years.

Another thought: the more I fiddle with these machines: Instead of thinking of Featherweights as overpriced, I honestly think we all have it wrong. I think all the other machines are grossly underpriced. I'm a cheepie-purchaser and tinkerer myself, so I love it that the machines can be had so easily and cheaply. But Miriam raises a very valid idea. Why do we expect something as solid as a 66 (or a whatever!) to be so darn cheap? All these machines are amazing. Amazing. And incredibly undervalued.

Reasonable price and fortunate to have all the attachments and accessories.

you will be very happy with it, I'm sure. Go for it.

well said. i will compare the old singer to the cars of yesteryears. well built (with real metal, SS, chrome) and with true value. as years passed we can see our machines go up in value. i bought a 201-2 from a guy in San Francisco and he showed me the receipt when it was first bought - $175. and that translates to about $1,500 in today's money and yet i want to buy it cheaper than what he was selling it for (to think that he's selling it at a cheap price already).

Miriam I have a 99 and a 66 and 3 featherweights and 3 301s I love them all. I use my featherweights for classes because of the weight. They are great little machines. I use my 66 for free motion quilting, which I am still trying to accomplish. Once in a while I will bring out the 99, but it is heavy for my poor back. Suzy

how about this FEATHERWEIGHT for $175 but in Melbourne, Florida.

Congrats, Janice - I hope your new FW treats you well. I have three and switch back and forth with them - love them all! Let us know how you like her after you've spent some time getting to know her...

If it's in good shape and you wanted one....No it's a fair price!

I think would take a gamble on it

I can't wait until it arrives! It looked a little dirty, but I am looking forward to polishing her up and getting her back into shape. I've been reading up and looking at video on how to clean. Does anyone know the best way to clean the black case it comes in? I'd like to get it looking better also. Thanks for all your help and comments. :)