Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Crafts

Warpy

(111,246 posts)

2. I have an ancient Singer Featherweight

Reply to politicat (Original post)

Fri May 19, 2017, 02:36 AM

May 2017

that weighs in at about 40 pounds of feathers that runs on either AC or DC current and sews forwards and backwards and that's it. It's one of the cast iron machines with lots of gold decals. It is also cantankerous and sews only for me and one of my friends and at its age, it's allowed to be cranky.

I know none of the early zigazg machines were very good. Time has improved them a great deal and I know have a Brother zigzag for the things my old Singer can't do. I've still made most of my clothing over the years on the Singer.

Just don't dis pre WWII Singer machines in my hearing if you don't want a protracted lecture on the relative indestructibility of ancient Singer sewing machines. Nothing is better than one that has been kept oiled up and in tune.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

33 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

A blanket apology to the Singer owners and their machines... [View all] politicat May 2017 OP

My wife has started into antique machines. gordianot May 2017 #1

You know that there are after market parts to make a blown machine into a hand-crank? politicat May 2017 #9

I have an ancient Singer Featherweight Warpy May 2017 #2

That's what I've discovered. politicat May 2017 #10

It says "Featherweight" right on it. Warpy May 2017 #17

Yep Me. Apr 2018 #26

ME Too!! mitch96 Apr 2018 #27

I inherited my my grandmother's treadle Singer. Staph May 2017 #3

I'm glad your family over-ruled that planter idea. politicat May 2017 #13

I always figured Staph May 2017 #15

This is exactly my survival plan. politicat May 2017 #16

My mom had a vintage Singer that folded down into the cabinet. Many nights I fell asleep with the NBachers May 2017 #4

Not All Singers are Bad dem in texas May 2017 #5

I've heard great things about that Rocketeer, and it's beautiful. politicat May 2017 #12

not sure if it was a singer, but i used my grandma's old hmm, hard to say. pansypoo53219 May 2017 #6

Very timely post. Baitball Blogger May 2017 #7

Honestly? Find a maker space, if there's one near you. politicat May 2017 #11

Thank you! Baitball Blogger May 2017 #14

I have an old Singer, (electric) my grandmother's, probably from pre-WWII. northoftheborder May 2017 #8

This is an old thread but I can't help but jump in eleny Mar 2018 #18

I bought a Singer 4411 back in February... Phentex Apr 2018 #19

That line get very high marks eleny Apr 2018 #20

The only trouble I'm having is with the bobbin Phentex Apr 2018 #21

So the thread loosens as the bobbin becomes more empty? eleny Apr 2018 #22

The worst was with a pretty full bobbin... Phentex Apr 2018 #23

Hey, don't feel bad eleny Apr 2018 #24

that's a great idea... Phentex Apr 2018 #25

Singer Featherweight 221K planetc Apr 2018 #28

That's really cool! Phentex Apr 2018 #29

I used Singers in school and my mother had one, but I have only owned Janomes since the 1960s. demigoddess May 2022 #30

Singer 503 Rockateer is the best, has heavy meatal gears. dem in texas May 2022 #31

skipped part of my story dem in texas May 2022 #32

A complicated set of events that lost me (having stored with a friend no fault of his) a lovely... electric_blue68 Nov 2022 #33