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| Posted by Carmon Henry

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 briefly familiarize yourself with some common inquiries.


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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 your machine was given a batch assignment at the factory.  If you do not find your machine serial number listed in any of the three charts, then read through all text and all article links for more references and historical information.    Most serial numbers are found...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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 manufactured or commissioned in any given year throughout their production.  This may help you determine the ease of finding machines to perhaps coordinate with personal milestones or significance. Some years are easy, others difficult and, of course, many are impossible. Check the following chart for the possibilities of finding...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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 universally accepted way of describing a machine. No more "pristine", "mint", "like new", etc, but a method of honestly assessing a machine.  Graham commends its use to all and claims no copyright for this information; it may be freely copied, reposted or distributed in its original form. This scale takes no notice of the mechanical condition.  If...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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 Featherweight Machines.(This particular one has a copyright date of 1941.) Above Right:  This manual-style was supplied with UK-built Featherweight Machines.  It was also printed in the UK. If your manual is like those two above, you can determine the date of your manual by looking in the upper left corner.  The number in parentheses is indicative of a month and...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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.


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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 Shop now has the complete Featherweight Maintenance Handbook (short video below), which will guide you step by step through the routine service process with direct links to the Maintenance and Troubleshooting video tutorials on the Featherweight Schoolhouse. These self-guided tools were specifically created to be the "workshop at home", giving ease and the helping hand as you learn all the steps to service your own Singer Featherweight 221 or 222.  We even have a complete Featherweight Tune-up Kit so you can be fully prepared!


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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 might expect.  After years and years of seeing machines shipped with damage (and having to help some of our customers replace those parts), we created this tutorial to help you and others learn how to pack a Singer Featherweight 221 and 222 properly.  This information can apply to other portable sewing...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

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.  Replacement parts are expensive and sometimes exact originals cannot be found (e.g. white and tan featherweight bobbin winders, spool pins, early case designs, etc.).  Over the years we have emailed many online sellers our photo tutorial for how to pack and ship a Singer Featherweight properly.  Still, a few of them did not heed...


| Posted by Christian Henry

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 be a 221 or 222 model (more information about subsequent number or letter suffixes here), and to learn about the differences of a 221 compared to 222 model, click here.  So, while there were millions and millions of black sewing machine models made by Singer, the 221 and 222 models are the only...


| Posted by Christian Henry

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 Featherweight.  Buying a Singer 221 or 222 can certainly be intimidating, but we do have some tips and cautions that can help you make the right decision when searching for a machine. What is a good price? When gauging the price of a machine or comparing prices of machines that have already...


| Posted by The Featherweight Shop

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-metal Penguin walking foot was specially designed for fabric layers or hard-to-work with sheen or textured fabrics like tweed, napped, and pile fabrics - any material where an extra steadying grip would make the job easier!  Learn more about the unique features and charm of the Singer Walking Presser Foot "Penguin" here. Don't...


| Posted by Christian Henry

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! In the top left corner of most 221 manuals is the form # and below that is the revision date. Some years like 1949 had no revisions and some like 1948 had three. Continue reading for additional insight into this aspect of Featherweight history. We can't guarantee that we have all Featherweight manuals recorded here, so...


| Posted by Featherweight Shop Staff

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 to their original owners. We have designed this darling certificate for you to begin or maintain the ownership details of your machine! Documenting AuthenticityThe vintage replica Certificate of Ownership is more than a mere receipt; it's a record of your machine's serial number, model, and commission date. It remains a vital piece of history for collectors, validating the machine's place in the Singer Featherweight...

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