Posted 2 years ago
Barbm85
(1 item)
I was given this and are not sure if it's worth anything or how much it would be worth. It even works. Can anyone help me out any information about this?
Singer 221 vintage sewing machine | ||
| Sewing8 of 2539 |  |  |
Hi, Barbm85. :-)
Valuation isn't done here in the Collectors Weekly Show & Tell forum.
You could get an appraisal from this outfit underneath the same corporate umbrella (Barnabys), but it isn't free:
https://www.valuemystuff.com/us/appraisal
I can at least tell you the basics of what you have, and give you some online resources to explore for more information.
What you have is a Singer model 221, commonly known as a Featherweight because of its relatively slight weight compared with other contemporary vintage sewing machines of its day. It was in production 1933 - 1968.
Pretty much everything you always wanted to know about Singer Featherweights but were afraid to ask is at this website:
https://singer-featherweight.com/
A quick visual assessment based on the medallion badge suggests that yours is of mid-1953 or later vintage:
*snip*
About midway through 1953 Singer added the small "221-" emblem below the main badge.
*snip*
https://singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/timeline-history-of-the-singer-featherweight
Where to look for the serial number so that you can determine its age more precisely:
https://singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/dating-your-featherweight-machine
Here's a soft copy of a 1951 manual for a 221K (the "K" suffix means it was made at Singer's Kilbowie factory, and the only real differences from the USA-made ones would be the electrical components):
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer_221k_manual_1951.pdf
Here's an undated manual for a USA-made 221:
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/manuals/singer-sewing-machine-221-1-featherwight-manual.pdf
You also have a buttonhole maker, and some other attachments. Here is a gallery:
https://singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/vintage-singer-attachments-accessories
Featherweights are considered quite desirable by vintage sewing machine enthusiasts, although yours seems to have been somewhat abused, judging from the state of the finish.