I just bought one at an auction. They found it in a large crock in the basement (where it had been forever). There is no rust but no belt either. Got belt and bobbins for it but the upper thread doesn't seem to go around the bobbin to make the stitch. Did they take it apart and not put it together again properly? I also found a fine spring sitting on the thread spool. There were attachments, needles and oil and grease in the box. Need help desperately, Thanks

Read everything you can about the 221 and especially look at the pictures and check to see if your bobbin area is "right" there is a special place for the bobbin holder to fit in a groove, AND do you have the needle in facing the right direction and threading from RIGHT to left. Good luck...you will enjoy this machine when you understand it and get it going.

I've only found a few reasons why a FW won't stitch.
Make sure your needle is in correctly, it needs to be snug up in there. You'll know that's the problem if every time you try the machine you have to rethread the machine.
Make sure your threading the needle correctly (opposite from most)
Make sure the bobbin is threaded correctly
Make sure the ear on the bobbin case is embedded under the feed dogs in the little slot and it can't move at all. If you can move that ear around you'll never get a stitch.
You can do a search on google and get a PDF manual for the FW which will help you a lot.
Good luck and enjoy

I just got a 211 Birthdate June 26, 1947
Brought her to the Featherweight Man the next morning, and she is purring like a kitten ever Sooooooo Smooth, I love her!

Featherweight and 301
 

I bought my 1951 Centennial 221 Featherweight last July in Ontario while visiting family. Babe flew home with me as carryon, I didn't want to trust her in the baggage area of 3 different flights. She has a small rough area in the front where the blacking has come away and the decals are a bit worn, but I didn't want her for her beauty (which she is to me), but for her lovely stitching and portability. I even have the original bill of sale. She sat for a while till I could take a class on maintenance and care (thanks Archaic Archane). But since then I've sewn 2 big quilts and a number of smaller items on her.

Just last week I came into a 301. She had the wrong bobbin case in her when I bought her, but when I found out they are the same as the Featherweight I was thrilled. I was going to fix her up and sell her, but now Lucy is part of my home and not going anywhere. She just needed a bit of a clean, oil and lube and sews like a dream.

I bought a really nice one a few yrs ago and have never used it. It comes from Scotland and still has the orginal electric plugs on it. At the time I wanted to have one and then after I got it, it didnt seem so important. Eventually I'll get around to selling it for what I paid for it. I'm not one who needs to profit from everything. My only old machine that I bought and never have used but won't part with is my tredle. That's because my little grandson fell in love with it. He's now 8 but was about 5 when I got it and takes pride in knowing something that can run without electricity. I promised him that it along with my antique bed set (that he also loves) is his when anything happens to me. There are some really nice FW out there though.

Sadly, no padparadscha or periwinkle on there. I can never find the colours I want on paint charts!

I found a near pristine featherweight at an auction. Apparently no one there had a clue what it was,as no one bid against us. We got it for 150.00 with the case. When we got it home we realized it didn't have a bobbin case. I bought a reproduction case off of eBay. It did work, but not well. The machine made an odd noise, not the nice featherweight hum. So I bought an original case and all is well, especially after I took it to a class with the old sewing machine man. I learned a lot. I also bought the 1/4 foot with the guide. Love my featherweight.

I have now acquired Lucy, a white featherweight but her date stamps are obscure. My two black machines are a centennial Alice (1951) and Ivy (1957).
Lucy came with a non working foot control. So I will have to find a replacement. No attachments either. I still think she's lovely.

I purchased mine at a garage sale from another quilter. She said it wasn't working right. Got out the book, screw driver and had it fixed in under an hour. The little tab on the bobbin shuttle was not where it belonged. They are so neat to sew on. Mine is a 1929, shows signs of wear but I love it. Took it to a three day retreat and it was one of two feather weights there.