201-2? Featherweight?
 

I haven't even oiled my 301A yet, but have been looking around - at a thrift store, they had this for $250 - I think it's a 201 (but out of my price range) - is it a 201-2? It looks in pretty good condition and has a bentwood case with a key, and there is a repair tag on the machine - since I wasn't buying, he wouldn't let me try it.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]370961[/ATTACH]

Then, at an estate sale today, I saw this for $65 - is it a featherweight? It doesn't look in great condition - and it's missing a needle plate (?) - is it worth offering less and bringing it in to a shop to fix? There is some electrical tape on the motor, and it looks like it uses a knee controller. (Although I refuse to say I've been bitten by the "bug", it's fun to look around - another estate sale today, the lady had 3 sewing machines, all in cabinets, and a serger!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]370964[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]370962[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]370963[/ATTACH]
Appreciate all your comments!

The first is a 201. The second is a 99, not featherweight.

Featherweight photos are very numerous on the web if you do a search. Featherweights are light. If you have to strain to pick it up. It's not a Featherweight.

For future reference here's a guide to figuring out what Singer you're looking at:
http://www.sandman-collectibles.com/...r-machines.htm

The first machine is a 201-2. The potted motor version. Nice strong machine, runs great, usually runs pretty quiet. Not worth $250.00 by any means. It might be worth $75.00 but that's even stretching it.

The second machine is a 66-16 not a 99. It is a full sized machine and are very good sewers. I have 8 of them. That one is a former cabinet model that has been re-motored and and put in a case. It is missing it's light and bobbin cover plate and has a non Singer foot controller.
It is not worth $65.00. Perhaps $20 to $25 at the very most.

Neither are Feather Weights.

Joe

Joe - you're right. I missed the tell-tale face plate.

Not only the face plate, but just the overall look of the machine. The 99 is oh so similar, but there is enough difference to see they are not the same.

Joe

Thanks for the information! (The second machine had a xeroxed Featherweight manual in its base - that's why I thought it was a Featherweight - but it was heavy!) Well, I guess I'll keep looking around - went to one more estate sale today, and it had a Singer treadle there! But, I have no room for cabinets, so I'm keeping an eye out for portables.

isn't that a centennial badge on the first one? i'm thinking the blue ring around the badge is always a centennial, but am not sure.

Joe if that 201 has been professionally worked over with a new set of wiring, it is well worth that $250 - where are you going to buy a like new machine or a new machine for that? That machine will last a very long time. If you spend that same $250 on a new plastic wonder it won't last 5 years.