Not for the feint of heart...
 

I am quickly learning that vintage machine shopping is not for the feint of heart, lol. I've been looking at featherweights (and learning about so many other machines along the way!) and it's kind of nuts. Trying to snag a great deal on Craigslist before its gone (missed) and negotiating with people who waaaay over price (failed) and waiting for replys to ads that never come (rude), scouring eBay and trying to figure out why machines go for what they do (I still don't get it). Oh and making the thrift shop rounds just in case (nothing. Well i did score a great iron!) I can see how this becomes an addiction though...

Oh, I am living that life. And, it might not be quite so bad except I have decided I want one of the 'green' featherweights. I just bought a Standard 3/4 hand crank machine, I love love love it for my paper piecing. It really is amazing to see what some of the machines go for.
Good Luck!!

Hang in there with your search. A friend just picked up a preemo featherweight with case, attachments and manual at the St. Vincents last week for $15! And it was green....matched mine. Didn't even look like it had been used. So those super buys are still to be found with luck.

That is crazy! I found 2 machines during my st. Vinnies trips yesterday. One $200 broken treadle and a $100 rusty red eye in a broken case. Um, no thanks. Ours seems to think old=priceless regardless of condition. I will keep looking.

I just found a 301 at the Salvation Army store for 32.00 total price, in a Queen Anne style cabinet.......machine looks good......cabinet has a nick on a back leg back, and a place where the top of the machine hits the top of the open leaf on the left side.......didnt have time to even plug it in before an emergency trip to FL but 3 different employees at the store said it works...........it is the tan color.......bobbin and case and all seems to be there...cant do a photo as I am not at home to do it......hope it is as good as it looks.........just keep on checking those thrift stores, and you may just find a good one......they also had an old, beat up looking green one is a sad case.....I didnt have time to check it very well, but it looked like it had a hard life......and it was 19.99 price tag.

She found hers in LaPine (Oregon) and it hardly has anything in it.

Are you talking about the one Dee got a few weeks ago? She totally scored on that one! :)

Misskira, I'm always out junking, what are you looking for other than a featherweight? (I'm pretty sure if I score one of those that it'll stay with me! LOL) I'd be happy to keep my eyes open for you!

Mostly just a featherweight to start with. I have a small sewing space and would like a dedicated piecer since I also sew kids clothes and diapers. I also want to be able to take it out sewing, and my brother pc420 is a bit big for that. I have my grandmothers cabinet 15-90 that hasnt been used in nearly 20 years to get up and running. I don't think it will take much. I want to try some FMQ on that one. And i added a serger last fall. Dh is giving me the stink eye about bringing home yet another machine, so i bet this will be all for awhile. :) I reminded him is racecar takes up more space and money than all my machines combined. Someday I do want a pretty treadle and a sturdy hand crank some I'm prepared for the zombie apocalypse, lol. I figure I could trade clothes and quilts for the food the others stockpile. ;)

But I did find a fw! I pick her up tomorrow. $225, so not a steal by any means but she looks fabulous, has all her parts and is within pick up distance so I can look before I hand over the money and won't have to worry about misrepresentation or shipping. I've been saving up selling my diapers and outgrown knit woollies special for this so I'm ok with it.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...e/66d0cbb3.jpg

[QUOTE=misskira;5147215]
Someday I do want a pretty treadle and a sturdy hand crank some I'm prepared for the zombie apocalypse, lol. I figure I could trade clothes and quilts for the food the others stockpile. ;)

HA! another Survivalist! I bought my treadle and hand crank for the same reason. But I don't think it's zombie's. I believe the computer geeks of the world will eventually gain enough knowledge to turn our electric on and off all over the world . . . and I can still keep quilting :-)

I am soooo not a prepper, lol. I don't really think zombies will be it, but I like that term for most any possible catastrophe that could happen. I don't have the mindset to truly stockpile and be ready, so I tease dh that my machines will be our saving grace. :)

I got my fw home, and ohmygoodness she is gorgeous. The case is amazing without much smell and the machine looks hardly used. I'm quite pleased with my purchase. Maybe a 500a is next.... Or a 201. Or...

Glad you have found your featherweight.

Yes, what will it be next.....I vote for a nice handcrank.

Heh! I'm not skeered of no stinkin' zombies!! I figure I have several machines to chuck at them if need be! :D :D :D

It's funny...I've watched "Doomsday Preppers" (it's on now) and while some of those people amuse me no end, I do see some value in their preparations, and figure I have the sewing machine part covered, now I need to work on the food and water thing! :D :D :D

I put a handcrank on a 99 just for taking it camping where I have no electricity and secondly for the electricity being out at home issue....it doesn't happen here very often, but when it does it's usually several hours. The 99 is a great little machine anyway, and adding the handcrank just makes it the perfect little machine to use in the great outdoors or otherwise!! :-)

getting the 'bargain' machines is NOT for everybody. The bargain machines I have found have all had issues. Are you willing to fix them or have them fixed. Some times it is better to pay a bit more and then go over it real well to make sure it works.

:shock::shock::eek: $15? :eek::shock::shock:

Charlie,
If you ever run across a black 301 in good shape send me a PM. I am not having any luck at finding one. If it's too much trouble though, I totally understand.
Barb

I'll keep my eyes open Barb! Do you have a price range?