Where's a featherweight?
 

Why are they so hard to find? Made by the hundreds, never wear out, stuck in the bottom of our Grandparents and Parents closets. Yet, they are elusive if you don't want to pay $400 for them. I have an itchy finger to have one, but can't find one for a reasonable sewing price. Do they actually sell for $400?

I will tell you that I got the "bug" for one and looked at many an estate sale/garage sale/flea market between here and Atlanta for years and didn't even see one, let alone one in any kind of condition for any kind of price. Back then Craigslist was not very active around here. Finally, I lucked into one in a big flea market in Alabama on my way home from Atlanta, and it had the bobbin case and was under $200. Can't remember if it was $150 or $170. Anyway, I was so happy with it, and still am. Before I knew I could service it myself I brought it to the Old Sewing Machine Guy and he cleaned it up and oiled it. It is adorable. Some people trip over them in their areas. Go figure. Good luck and I hope you find a nice one soon.

I know it's not "local" but I see them for various prices on shopgoodwill.com all the time. There's several on there now.

Joe

I often see them on kijiji (our equivalent to Craigs list) and they can be had for as little as $25 to as much as $300-400 - all in the luck of the draw so to speak.

Stitchnripper, The Ole Sewing Machine Guy was the one who informed me of their benefits. I just couldn't afford one from him. Thanks Joe, I'll check them out. Most seem to be local pickup only when I last checked but there may be one close by. GEMRM, Wow! If ever I am in Canada, I'll check there. Since I'm a FL gal, it may be a while.

Check estate auctions as well. I have only seen one in the wild for sale besides the overpriced handful on craigslist here.

I have bought several from goodwill online and have sold several on Craigslist - and yes, the prices are going up. Many like me, have a few for sale but don't want to ship - so maybe you can keep an eye on your local Craigslist. Godd hunting!

I went to one of our local antique malls today. We managed to get through less than half of it before my eyes were crossing.
I found 5 featherweights, starting price 275 and running up to 499. One looked rusty, one was missing the bobbin case.

IDK, I'm not an expert but I have been watching (since I don't have one yet and I want one), the auctions on eBay have been finishing up lower then I have expected lately. Enough that I've kicked myself on a couple.

there are quite a few on ebay I noticed. they are all over priced

Kathy Metelica Cray at Grafton Village Quilts in Grafton VT has some for less than $400, I think. She isn't showing any on the website right now, but I was there a few weeks ago and she had some at good prices. Send her a message, and see what she has on hand. http://graftonvillagequilts.com/

Here? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-1...4c5bbb7&_uhb=1

I think I'll continue to scan Estate sales and yard sales. $400 is to rich for my blood. I can't justify it right now.

Bet I know where you've been! I got one of my Featherweights at the Heart of Ohio mall for $220! Great machine!

The one on eBay is $200....

I saw a tan one at a flea market in Canton, TX for $600. Needless to say, I didn't buy it. I bought a black one for $200. $200 is the average price where I live.

That's the one. It's actually the first time I have ever been in HoO. I didn't have enough time that's for sure.

I've been in the Springfield antique center a few times. They had 2 featherweights the last time I was there in November. I think one of those was under $200.

We should try to organize a meet up out there, I could be there all day and not see everything.

Its funny, when we say over priced. Its only over priced if someone doesn't buy it for the asking price. If they sell for the amount being offered than its the right price. Things are worth what people are willing to pay. Simple supply and demand.
All I know is, I'd rather pay $300 for a machine that is all metal and that will last for 100 years + than a similar plastic machine that will break within the first year.

Just my 2 cents.

But it's in Australia, it's $100 to get it here.

I looked for a few years and never even saw one - last September I was "wasting" time on Kijiji while recovering from surgery and stumbled on a yard sale with three near to my DD. Sent her and the boyfriend on a looksee. He called and got all three for a great deal. One of them turned out to be a 222! Then about a week later he cam across a 222 for really reasonable and bought it too. SO - now I have four! Go figure.

i like that the price translates to 221 in us dollars.... lol

I have bought 2 FW's and a 301A on Craigs List for a little over $200. All are in great condition with attachments, original manuals and cases in very good condition.
I also have a 99K and a 185j that I got from Goodwill. Both in good condition too....... Just keep looking and be selective...you'll find what you want :):)

I have 4 FW's. Price paid was $3 from a yard sale (ad on CL) for one that was totally siezed up everywhere possible, and 3 for $100 ea bought off CL at different times. They were all pretty sad looking when I found them, but they are all fairly nice and extremely useable now. The thins is, many ebay units are spruced up with every accessory in order to command the highest price. But maybe if you just want one toa actually use, you can find one cheaper. They aren't rare at all, there were millions made. They just have an almost cult following now, which drives up the price.
Good luck in your search, GW isn't bad, but you don't know the condition of bobbin case and base and needle plate and motor, any of which can set you back $40.

I have three, would love to sell two, but would need to get about $350-$375 to break even on them -- if anyone here wanted to buy one, you would have to pay to have The UPS Store pack it for shipping. I would trust them to do a decent job of it. I know I would never be willing to pack one for shipping without going there. I have no idea how much they would charge for packing and shipping - it might make it prohibitive!

Thanks for the offer w7sue, just can't afford it at that price. I fully understand needing to break even on them. Since I'm in Florida, we are about as far apart as we can get. :)

ditto!!!!!

I think so many people are looking for the black ones and not realizing they come in different colors. My sister's gentleman friend has a beautiful light mint green made in "64" I believe and in beautiful condition. They cleaned it up the other day. It only needed a damp gentle wipe down with a damp cloth. I'm so jealous. So it depends on the specifics one is looking for. His has all the attachments. The case is a little dusty but they cleaned it up also. I saw another in a local shop and the guy wants $550. for it. Depending on specifics and condition could be more.

I'm waiting on one that isn't perfect and is a fixer upper. There are millions and someday one of them will be for me.

Have you put the word out to family and friends? You never know - someone's grandmother or aging aunt just might have a FW sitting in the bottom of the closet or tucked away in a basement. It took me many years to pry my mother's FW out of her grasp, but she finally let it come to me when I promised and followed through on that promise to make her a queen sized quilt for her Florida home in Florida colors!! The only reason Mom let me have it really was because she has macular degeneration and cannot see well any longer. But she LOVES her quilt with the pink flamingoes!!!

Toverly - I live in Florida also and just might be able to help you find your Featherweight. I have sent you a private message thru this board. Contact me :-) quiltinjennie

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!