Myths and Facts About the Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine

The Singer Featherweight sewing machine was available for sale between 1933 and 1964. It has quickly become one of the most popular sewing machines in the world. The popularity of these sewing machines has helped uncover a wealth of information regarding its many variations and production history. Many of those who have used this machine are now Singer Featherweight collectors.

This sewing machine is surrounded by myths. While many people believe that the Singer Featherweight was available in all colors, the truth is that this machine was only produced in beige/tan, white/green, and black color. There were no blue, red, or yellow machines. Most collectors have repainted their machines and added new decals. A limited number of machines had a detachable bed extension for free-arm sewing.

If you search for information about the Singer Featherweight on the Internet, you will see that many users and collectors are trying to determine the manufacturing date of their machines. The truth is that it’s not possible to accurately state the year of manufacturing for your sewing machine, but only the date on which large batches of serial numbers were released to different factories. These machines have been manufactured in large quantities at Kilbowie, Scotland and Elizabethport, New Jersey. There were more than 1,055,326 Featherweight machines manufactured between 1848 and 1959.

The popular 222 Freearm was not available for sale in the United States. The company thought that this model would be too expensive to have a ready market. Another myth says that the fabric belt on white/green machines breaks at some point. The truth is that this piece makes it for a lighter and quieter machine. Many people still believe that there were notable differences between the Singer Featherweight sewing machines depending on the factory where they were produced. In fact there was no different in quality between factories. Both facilities used identical equipment for manufacture.

There are many sources of information about Singer Featherweight sewing machines on the Internet. Books have been written about this tiny yet powerful machine. An incredible amount of history has grown up around Featherweights, so it important to separate truth from myth. Even though most users claim that this machine is highly portable, it is actually a full sized, durable machine that needs maintenance to perform its best. Preserve it well and it will keep sewing. Although it only does a straight stitch, the Featherweight does come with a wide range of features and decorative accessories.