some questions - may have opportunity to get a featherweight or maybe a 301
 

While looking at the website for a local estate sale/auction house, I saw that they have a featherweight as one of the many items in the monthly warehouse sale tomorrow. I'm planning on getting there a little before the sale starts to check it out and hopefully join the club of featherweight owners. The site does not give a description or price of any item in the sale, just some pictures. As much as one can tell from a photo, the FW appears to be in decent condition and comes in a case and includes the manual and a singer case that I'm assuming has accessories in it. Is there anything I specifically need to check before I buy the machine? Are there any missing parts/accessories that are hard to obtain or expensive that I should think twice about before buying a machine without them?

Okay .... scratch what I just wrote about a FW. I think it might be a 301 according to the sandman-collectibles helpful singer ID site. I noticed the hinge on the bed in the picture and immediately thought FW :-) not realizing that other singers had a hinge as well.

So considering that condition and location affect the price, can anyone give me a good price range of what's good, what's too high for a 301?

also - what's the difference between the 301 and the 301a?

A 301 and a 301A are the same machine. They just added the A for Anderson, SC, I think. I own a Featherweight and a 301A. The 301A is considered the "big sister" to the FW. I love mine. I carried it cross country to a quilting retreat. It is bigger than the FW and weighs 5lbs more. BUT, you get a bigger bed and the spool pin isn't in the same position as the FW making me more comfortable traveling with it.

If you get one try to make sure there is a bobbin case in it. The replacement ones run $40 or so and I understand they don't work as well.

If you can get it in the $100 or less range, you're doing o.k. Of course, the less the better :> Make sure the cords and bobbin case are there. Any other items are a bonus, like manual, attachments, case etc. But those aren't necessary to enjoy your machine.

I paid $200 for my mocha colored 301, and traded my Singer 2010 plus $50 for my Black 301A, which amounted to $300 for the 301A. In this area (Stuart/WPBeach/Jensen Beach, FL) if you can find one for less than $300 it would be a bargain. The 301 was purchased last year, and the 301A last week. I love the 301s, wonderful workhorses. Good luck with your search. Whichever you get, am certain you will love it.

i scored!
 

I was not able to test out the machine, but a visual inspection showed it to be in great condition (well, at least to the my untrained machine inspector eyes :-)). It did have the bobbin case, 4 bobbins, an automatic zigzagger (with 4 stitch patterns & an instruction book), a buttonholer (with 9 templates & instruction book), an original 301 manual plus a photocopied/bound version, and several attachments. The cord/pedal appeared to be in great shape. Even though I couldn't test out the machine, I went on and purchased it b/c the price was only $61.00 before tax!

I can't wait until I get home tonight and can test out my new machine!!!!

Yea! Congratulations!

Congrats!! You did good girl......you will love your 301! Keep plugging away and you will get a FW someday too.

Congratulasions and you will love your machine. Great to sew on. Have fun!!

WOW! What a score. The one that just went on the Goodwill site almost sold for $300.

Congrats, I have 5 of them~