Ebay Featherweight Questions
 

Ok, I am a lover of Featherweights, I love the first vintage machines (1933-1938) that were made, mainly for the chrome features and the quality of the machines. (and yes, I would repaint it if needed, the paint does not have to be original, I would consider repainting as a face lift). I still have not found my dream machine, so I am always looking.

I came across this one, and am I wrong, but this does not seem to have the correct features that a 1933 should have, or have I missed something in my research of these machines? Is it possible that some machines that were produced during this time came with changes in the production line features for a period of time. I assumed it should have a chrome hand wheel and bobbin tenison bracket shoud be chrome as well.

Thank you for any knowledge.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1933-Singer-...item43af190abd

The Singer website puts the serial number the Ebay auction lists in the year 1933.

This website (http://www.singer-featherweight.com/...es/dating.html) agrees.

Dayle

Beautiful but too high, IMHO

Could be a refurbished machine. My 1936 does not have numbers on the tension dial and the hand wheel is chromed. I had to go look at that to be sure! My tension dial has an open spring is the best description I can give.

Mary

@MaryLane - I have a 36 FW too!!!!!

I have a 1936 FW too and it has numbers on the tension dial.:)

Hmmm... My 1936 does not have numbers on the tension dial...

Mine doesn't have numbers but I have seen them with. I just thought mine had been removed sometime before I got her?????

One of my FW's is a 1937, and has numbers on the tension dial, a chrome wheel and chrome bobbin winder. I haven't checked my other two, as they aren't out right now, but I know one is a '36 and I can't remember if the other one is a
'35 or '38. But I am sure they all have Chrome wheels., and if my memory serves me correctly these also have numbered dials for the tension. Possibly some changes made on that machine, and if so could be that the orig. parts were not found.

I ain't know, but it's pretty!

After looking of the pics in the eBay ad I think that it looks like a "blackside" version of a FW so that may be the reason for the lack of chrome. Here is a video of a blackside Singer 15-91 just to show you what I mean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysoFKgwEl24

look up the site "featherweight221factory.com". he has a wealth of information on 221's. good place to educate
yourself if you are buying a machine. fun place is you have one already.
the serial # may be OK for that year, but several things appear to be changed or added.

Thanks everyone, I noticed he pulled his add, because he admitted he had the wrong description and reposted it. Don't know if someone point it out to him or what, but at least he was honest to correct it.

I still like the models made during the 30's, classy.:cool:

Yestereday, at the quilt show, in Paducah, I spent a lot of time at the booth with FWs and talked with the repairman at length. He stated that people buy FWs on Ebay and send them to him to repair. He says "buyer beware".
Some of the machines are really messed up, with broken hooks, bent shafts and lots wrong with them. He says they can be repaired, but end up costing a lot for parts. He had machines with black, painted, balance wheels as well as chrome. Some light switches have plastic bezels and can be broken by tightening them too much. He had one with a steel bezel on the light switch however. He was glad to share the pitfalls of FW and stated they were the best machines Singer ever made. His wife stated the 201-2 was. Hummmmmm.