Originally Posted by Charlee (Post 5371439)

I'm at the Oregon coast (Newport), and just took possession of "Katherine", the 301! She stitches beautifully!! Fairly clean machine too. :) The inside of the manual has a handwritten note:
July 30, 1953 $227.50, $4.55 ST, $232.05

So, according to the inflation calculator, in today's dollar, this machine would cost $1869.72!! No wonder the lady that sold it to me said her grandmother was very excited to have a "fancy machine" when she bought it new! :D

Originally Posted by miriam (Post 5370615)

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/atq/3143494990.html I wonder if it is for sale or for exhibit?

Originally Posted by Charlee (Post 5371842)

True Miriam, but I will still maintain that there are too many old machines "out there" for them to have a high value! In 1953, like today, "new" was too high priced, and I would have no more owned this "fancy" machine then, than I do an 1800.00 machine today!! :D

"Google is my friend..." I found the inflation calculator here: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

Originally Posted by melinda1962 (Post 5371503)

Glad you got your hands on your new baby!! Fancy indeed!! My machine must have been bought by newlyweds, because the owner wrote in at least 5 places, Mrs. Manly M. Man(I am protecting her privacy), like she was practicing her new name. It's a shame you already named her Katherine, because she could have been Fancy. Although Fancy may have not been what a lady wanted to be called in 1953. But a fancy sewing machine would be something else.

Enjoy the family reunion.

Originally Posted by BoJangles (Post 5371996)

Charlee, in 1976 we paid $1800 for my Pfaff 1222e in a cabinet! It was way more than we could afford, but I was a very young bride and wanted a 'good' sewing machine! We made payments! I still have that Pfaff and I still love it and use it all the time - it is the one I put all the sashings on those Quilt as You Go quilts because of the IDT - walking foot! That was the best investment I ever made!

Nancy

Originally Posted by Charlee (Post 5371439)

I'm at the Oregon coast (Newport), and just took possession of "Katherine", the 301! She stitches beautifully!! Fairly clean machine too. :) The inside of the manual has a handwritten note:
July 30, 1953 $227.50, $4.55 ST, $232.05

So, according to the inflation calculator, in today's dollar, this machine would cost $1869.72!! No wonder the lady that sold it to me said her grandmother was very excited to have a "fancy machine" when she bought it new! :D

Originally Posted by Janis (Post 5370256)

In my purse, I carry a little 'just in case' kit. It has sewing machine needles, thread, a generic bobbin with another color thread (just in case), small scissors, and a scrap of fabric. Then if I do see a machine I'm interested in, I can usually try it out. It has come in handy!! I keep a pair of tweezers in my billfold, and have for years. They come in handy for a lot of things... Have fun Charlee!!
On another note, I just got a green/white featherweight 221 today. I had to take the bobbin assembly apart some to get the finger ( or what ever it is called ) back in place at the top. At one time I lost the little screw that held the assembly together, and found it after sweeping my floor. It now runs great after oiling it all over. I need help in dating it as everywhere I look, I can't find serial numbers after EX. This one has EY 851310, and yes I looked several times to make sure it wasn't EV or EX. Does anyone know where I can date it? I got just the machine, no case, and no attachments. I paid $100.00 for it, which I thought was a good price for it. Any one have a spare case they want to sell reasonably?