Lucky lady, so happy for you. I would be happy with 1. DD and boyfriend are cool.

I really think they are over priced, but the going rate seems to be around $300 and up for a nice one. You have to be so careful. Dealers are buying them up and making a fortune. Ask around. Some people you know may just have one in their attic. I have two and bought one at an antique shop for $315. No attachments came with it and I just have one pressure foot, but it works very well. I didn't know what to look for when I bought it and there is a coffee cup mark on it, and you can tell it was stored in a hot area because the paint had gotten soft at one time. The second one is a very very old one and I paid $400 for it from a friend who I didn't want to take advantage of. I know now that it is worth more at the going rate that I see on various sites. It's just a shame they aren't more affordable. I'd like to collect them, but since so many quilters want them now, I would hate to do that. I counted one guy had 22 to sell on the internet. They were repaired, etc. and supposed to be in excellent condition. I'm so happy with my two. Good luck finding one.

Alyce, I don't know where you are in Florida. Early February I saw one in a Daytona Beach antique store for $199. The foot pedal was there but no other accessories. I don't know if it is in working order or not. The machine needed to be cleaned up. PM me if you want more information on location.

I was fortunate in that I bought one from an estate. Complete with pedal and accessories and an original Singer tin box of bobbins. All for $75. I took it to a sewing machine man too and he was amazed that I got it for that price. I wasn't sure what they were worth at the time of the purchase. The repairman said it was worth $375. This was 5-6 years ago. My Pfaff machine is in for repairs now and I am enjoying piecing on the Featherweight again. It is usually in its case in the stash closet.

I don't think I am who you are writing about, since I am in Louisiana! Maybe Toverly? I'm happy with the one I have - unless I luck into another one some day...

Toverly - here's another one in Daytona
http://daytona.craigslist.org/atq/4310824430.html

I was at flea market/antique show at fairgrounds in Louisville, Ky. The antique show is separate. My husband just ask the right guy, he said he had one at home so the next day he brought it in. The machine looked brand new and so did the case, and it had every foot there is. The origin tube of oil was with it too, its dried up but I don't want to throw it away. We paid $ 200 for it.

I have a painful story about a 222k that lives at my mother in laws house just a few blocks away from me and she doesn't use it. It sits in her basement like the rest of her hoard. She knows how much I would love to clean it up and use it, but she won't even talk about it. She knows how much I want it, so it makes her want it. UGHH, so frustrating.

I wish I never told her how much they were worth, or how collectible they are. Granny would have just given it to me instead of her and there would have been no harm or fowl. No one, not even granny would have cared if they didn't know how valuable and rare they are. I should have kept my mouth shut and just asked for it without elaborating why.
The really frustrating part is, is that I would clean it up, use it, love it, and keep it working properly for my mother in law and give it back to her any time. I would love to have that machine in my care on loan for as long as its not in use at her place.

Well, my Featherweight hunt is over. I didn't find one but my DH walked in this morning with cash money for a Juki 2010Q. Which is the other machine I've been drooling over. I was surprised. He had saved money in his account and knew I wanted one. So, as y'all can see right now, I'd feel pretty bad about paying for yet another machine. Thanks for all the terrific help received, this Board is great!

I hate to make people sick..but here's what happened last summer:
My oldest son lives and works about 60 miles from me. He does mostly remodels in older homes and sees a lot of yard sales. One day he told me about this little black sewing machine in its own little suitcase. He didn't buy it for me because they wanted $50.00 for it and he didn't think I would want to pay that much for "toy". I showed him a picture of a featherweight.....yep! Of course the next day it was gone! He is still trying to find me another one! He did buy a Shape Cutter for $2.00! Said he didn't know what it was but it looked like a sewing thing! Bless his pea-picking little heart!

That gives me hope. Mine is out there!