I received a heads up from a friend on the West coast, that they had a Singer Featherweight available and would I like to have them ship it out. Of course I said ( Bring It On) and what arrived today is a careworn little girl named "Bonnie" who is a wee Scottish Lass who was born in Kilbowie Scotland, in 1969. She is of the Pale white/greenish persuasion and she shows her age. Not a fancy sort, but made of sturdy stock and with lots of potential for turning in a good days work. I gave gave her a thorough cleaning and found that the pulley on the motor had disintegrated so I was able to order another one and it is being shipped out along with a new drive belt, and a 1/4" quilting foot, and 12 bobbins. The case is in pretty sorry shape, so I will need to recover it and then it will be fine. One of the things that came with it, along with the usual attachments and manuals, was the Buttonhole Foot. This marvel of 19th century technology, moves the fabric, back and forth as it passes under the needle so as to make a zig-zag stitch with a straight stitch only machine. Curious but effective, or so it seems. I will need to touch up a rather large flaw in the paint on the front of the bed, but as this is a workhorse machine, for me, I am not too horrified by it's presence. I do think I might try to locate a pristine black model, to have as a keeper for display, and occasional use, but Bonnie will be a girl who has to earn her keep, to be fed the constant diet of oil that I know she craves. I am really looking forward to the arrival of the needed parts to get her up to speed, and join the legions of Featherweight Fanatics. One of my life goals is near to being met, and she should be a valuable servant on the travels to the sunny south, when they do come along.
Here you go.