Singer Featherweight FAQs

A collection of frequently asked questions surrounding the Singer Featherweight... from "Is my machine a Featherweight?" to "What is my Featherweight worth?" to "I just got a Featherweight, now what do I do?"... and MORE!  This set of questions will be a great place to begin if you are wanting to...

Dating Your Singer Featherweight Machine

What is the Birthdate of My Singer Featherweight? To date your Singer Featherweight, you will need to locate the serial number on the bottom of your machine.  It has two letters followed by a series of six numbers.  Using the serial number you can use the three charts below to find the date when...

Birthdate Featherweights

How great it would be to have a Singer Featherweight made in the very year you were born or the year you graduated from high school or college or perhaps the year your child was born. The data below, inspired by Graham Forsdyke's original reference chart, graphs the number of machines manufacture...

Grading Scale & Condition Chart

Over twenty years ago, totally frustrated with inaccurate and misleading descriptions of machine condition, Graham Forsdyke devised the Condition Chart for the International Sewing Machine Collectors' Society (ISMACS). It was quickly picked up by enthusiasts all over the world and is now the univ...

Identify Your Manual

The Various Featherweight Manuals Throughout the years that Featherweights were produced, the Singer company produced some manual variations. The principal handbooks given with machines are shown here.       Above Left:  This manual is the standard handbook supplied with US-built Featherweigh...

Parts Diagram & Details

Click here for a free download of all the parts, screws, and mechanics to the Singer Featherweight 221.  Two full pages are included for easy reference.

Featherweight Shop Maintenance, Service and Repair

Featherweights need to be serviced annually, which includes oiling, lubricating and setting tension. On that note, we highly recommend that you do learn to service and maintain your Singer Featherweight yourself... yes, you can do it!  And, good news!! We will show you how!  The Featherweight Sh...

Packing & Shipping a Singer Featherweight Properly

Packing a Singer Featherweight seems like it would be simple enough, doesn’t it?  After all, it comes with a handy carrying case, right?  Well, I think after you see the photographed illustrations below you will understand that these small, portable machines need a bit more care than what you mig...

Damaged in Shipment

The following photos will show you what happens when a Singer Featherweight is not properly packed.  If you are an eBay, Etsy, or shopgoodwill online seller and you are shipping a Singer Featherweight across the country or even across the oceans, please take these warnings seriously.  Replacemen...

How Does The Featherweight Compare to Other Singer Machines?

  When Singer introduced the Featherweight in 1933 it was vastly different from most all sewing machines on the market.  This article will compare the Featherweight to the other common Singer machines of its era.   First, to be considered an actual Singer "Featherweight", the sewing machine must ...

What To Look For When Buying a Featherweight

"Is this a good price?", "How do I know if anything is wrong with the machine?", "Are some Singer Featherweights better than others?", and "What do I look for when purchasing a Singer Featherweight?" - these are all common questions we receive from those on the hunt for their first Singer Feather...

What Is The Correct Way Of Identifying A Singer Walking Presser Foot AKA?

The Singer Walking Presser Foot, also known as "The Penguin" due to its adorable waddle while sewing, is one of the most sought-after Singer accessories. 'Penguin' is not an official Singer name, rather it was a cute descriptor applied by a Featherweight collector in the early 2000s. The all-me...

The Register of Original Featherweight Manuals

Finding a matching, original manual to each machine is important to Featherweight collectors, and this register lists all 221 Featherweight manuals that we have recorded and the variations that we have observed between each of them.   Determining the date of a Featherweight manual is rather easy!...

Singer Featherweight Certificate of Ownership

The Singer Featherweight sewing machine emerged October 3rd, 1933, capturing hearts with its compact design and exceptional functionality. A few Featherweights today still have their original receipts and guarantee certificates; however, most machines have lost all documentation connecting them t...