This thread has re-piqued my interest in antique sewing machines. I've been scouring CL for a good deal on a Singer 221 FW. If I can't find this one as my top choice, what would you reccommend as #2, #3, etc. on the list. I kinda have my heart set on the 221 FW tho, but I don't want to spend 3 or 4 hundred dollars on one either. I know everyone will have their favorites, so it will be interesting to see how you would rank them. I know Billy will have treadles at the top of his list, lol.

I have my heart set on a Featherweight, but I want ONE in particular...my mother's. (My sister has it and so far, won't give it up, even tho she has no intention of using it)

Other than that, any machine with the right price that follows me home is more than welcome, altho I tend to favor "pretty"...as in decals intact, working machines. I would really like to collect some of the prettier decaled machines.

HI, I am not in anyway an expert but I have been bitten by this Vintage Bug. The VB has led me to read tons of information. In addition to some of the others I have collected I bought a Singer 15-91. Its reputation is terrific and it is what I plan to do my piecing on. The owner of it kept it in pristine shape as well as the cabinet and little backless bench that came with it. Probably circa 1950s, Oh yeah, bought it off of Craigslist. Don't know who that guy is but he sure provided a great service for all of us!

:P

Oh how did you know that LOL!!!

Well actually this is a realistic list that can either be powered by treadle or not.

#2 Singer Model 66 preferably a later one with the back tack but they all are great machines.

#3 Singer 301 same features of a FW but a full sized machine and it is still portable or you can have it in a cabinet.

#4 Singer or Japanese 15 this one is a hard to beat machine and the Japanese versions are still very affordable. You can drop the feed dogs and FMQ on them and they have the back tack feature.

All of these machines use the 15x1 needles which are readily available and the bobbins and any other parts are still easily obtained at your local sewing machine repair shop or Singer dealer.

Billy

I love this machine and as soon as I can find one its mine!!!!

Your machines patent date is around the 1927 mark so you are right about that. They did however make these machines for several years so the patent date isn't necessarily the production date. I am not sure when they discontinued this model but I am almost sure it ran through the mid to late 30's.

Yours is a nice example of a well cared for (or hardly ever used) machine!

Billy

Okay I wanted to let you guys know that I have a post in the For Sale section of the board for the Singer Decals!!

I have a very limited amount and if you want them better grab them up fast!! But here is the link to the post and they are already selling.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-44304-1.htm

Billy

Ok . I got it working but honestly with the surgery I have had it is just too much for me. The belt was not tight enough so I tightened it up a little. I think I am just going to sell this one and put my Kenmore in the house instead of in the shed.
Anybody know anyone in Ga that may be interested. I am only asking 100 and it does work. It has the shuttle and bobbins and some feet and the key.
Thanks for the help by the way.
Oh I guess I should put it it is the model 12 Treadle that I was asking about.

Which machine give a large throat space and is good for piecing, fm work?

Sharon

Lovely.

Sharon

Hi Sharon! Any of the machines are good for piecing...as for FM? You want to get one that you don't have to actually remove the feed dogs everytime that you want to FMQ...the 201-2 that I just got yesterday you can drop the feed dogs on, but it's a process more than just "flipping a switch".
Other than that, I'm really not sure if there's a treadle that you can drop the dogs on...will have to research it!