Got 2 Singer Featherweights and Now What Do I Do ???
 

Well last Saturday while at sewing store hubby saw a Singer featherweight and was intrigued by it. So since past this Saturday he has purchased 2 on eBay. They are suppose to be in good working condition and were made in 1937 and 1949. They are the 221 model. As I have only been able to sew on computerized sewing machines in the past 10 years (I kinda "stunk" at threading and tensions on mechanical ones).
So am I in BIG trouble ?????? I have no idea if I am even going to be able to thread thiese things (they both do have manuals). Where on earth am I going to start on these? Are these machines easy or hard to use?
Thanks for any help.
Karen

Wonderful lucky you! I love my feather weight. You have to thread it from right to left is the thing I had trouble remembering. I just cleaned, oiled and timed mine and she sews wonderfully

Karen,

First, do a happy dance. Woooo Hoooo!!


Then when the machines get here repeat this OUTLOUD ... "I am smarter than this machine." Repeat it until you believe it. Read The Manuals. Read them again. Follow the pictures. Do exactly how the instructions say.

These machines are a piece of cake to operate. Seriously, and I mean what I just said. They are easy, just different from the modern computerized ones.

Joe

You'll need to use a 15x1 needle system (easy enough to find, as it's still in common usage) and don't forget to insert the needle "NFL," or Needle Flat to the Left. As another poster mentioned, the thread then goes through the needle from right to left.

Congrats on the machines, I'm sure you'll love them!

You are sew going to love these machines. So easy to operate. Also, very portable. Enjoy and do the happy dance.

Your well on your way to a love afair. Hubby gets a really nice treat for getting them for you. If they don't have the manuals you can them from the singer site.

Afew links for you, I hope they help.

http://www.ismacs.net/free-sewing-ma...uals-list.html

http://www.sewingmachineparts.net/motors_parts.html

http://www.april1930s.com/

http://singeroriginalvintageproducts.com/default.aspx
They are easy to maintain.

Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance!!

Sew, sew, sew!!!

Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance!!

Sew, sew, sew!!!

I bought mine on EBay and it workds great. We replaced the belt, bulb and green drip pad inside. I recently had trouble with my "real"machine so I have been using the Featherweight for everything. It sews like a trooper. I love it. It is from 1937 also. They come with the book. Not too hard to thread or wind bobbin.

Thanks to both of you for telling me this - I had no idea of flat slide to the left and never even thought of different needles.
The first one is to be here by Friday and the other one next Monday. AND, I can't believe how he's on a roll, he just bought another one last night - he liked the box/case it came in (has a dome like lid - to me looks like a coffin), I think he bought this one because he wants to refinish the case. And he's already told me to make sure that these machines work when they get here -- boy do I need luck. Sure hope the tension is correct because I could never figure out how to adjust that in my 30 year old Kenmore that I traded in for computerized one years back.
Karen