The new Featherweight

The Singer company has apparently revived the featherweight:

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Actually, this machine appears to be a quite new model, introduced within the past year as near as I can determine, but whether or not they revived the name just recently, or if the name has been in continuous use use, even after they stopped producing the 221 (1969, as best as I can determine).

I can't even determine if Singer ever actually "officially" called the

221 "featherweight," in the manual for mine, the actual word "featherweight does not appear.

The c240 is a much more sophisticated machine. The 221 can have its capabilities expanded with attachments such as the buttonholer, but all the machine itself can do is sew a straight line either forward or backwards(and I think the backwards sewing is a bit of a pain, at least compared to just pushing a "reverse button" it in lengths from 30 stitches/inch (just under 1MM) to 5 stitches/inch (~5MM).

The c240 is a computerized machine and is quite sophisticated. The price of a c240 is $499, and most 221's on ebay seemed to be between 200 and 400 dollars, though I did see a model with "1920's Red Eye decoration" that was ~$3200. The 222 (freearm featherwieght) was generally around $1000.

The c240 probably costs a lot more to fix than the 221. In reading about the 221, much of the time any problems can be solved just by cleaning and oiling it and perhaps replacing the needle. I don't really know what is involved in repairing a computerized machine like the c240, but it is probably much more involved, much more expensive, and even for the simplest problem more than changing the needle, probably requires a sewing machine mechanic.

I looked at some "video reviews" of the c240 on Youtube, and they seem to be quite positive, and it looks like a quite nice "entry level" computerized machine. I have to wonder, though, if it as well made as the 221. There is a reason that 221's have been around for 70, 80, and even in some cases close to 90 years, but I cannot imagine anything made today lasting 30 (let alone 70) years.

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Brian Christiansen
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Hello Brian, Are you planning on buying one of these featherweights? Sandy$

Reply to
sandydollar2015

Unless you are plannning on sending me cash, a check, a money order, or an Amazon gift card for $500, no I am not.

In a get-together I was at the other night, I mentioned my Singer 221 and how it was my "inheritance" from my late mother.

One of the people at the table I was at looked up "Singer Featherweight" on his phone, and showed it to me.

When I got home, I did some "research", and found the Singer page about this machine, the Amazon page where it could be ordered, and a few (it seems to be a very new machine, so there are not many yet) YouTube videos, and I found my results interesting, and decided to share.

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Reply to
Brian Christiansen

Hello Brian, They have a used one like new on Amazon.com for $199, so check them out.

Reply to
sandydollar2015

Perhaps I was not clear enough: no, I am not going to buy this, or am even thinking about it. If I were in the market for a new machine, and had the money, I might.

I just thought what I found was interesting, and decided to share what I found. I did not think my original post indicated that I was thinking about buying it, or that it came out as asking for advice about doing so.

The one that is 199 is no longer there. I just looked on Amazon, and the new ones were ~$499, and the "used-like new" ones were ~$450.

Either the one that was $199 was snapped up real fast, or what I think is more likely is that when the original posting was made, and error was made where the wrong price was typed in, then was corrected very quickly.

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Reply to
Brian Christiansen

Hello Brian, Didn't mean to upset you, just thought you might reconsider because of the price of this used one. I would buy it but I already have three sewing machines, so don't need any more. I apologize. Sandy$

Reply to
sandydollar2015

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