Featherweight Fanatics Archives
2004
Sunday, February 8
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Featherweight Fanatics A Service of Sue Traudt's Valley Brook Botanicals
Welcome to all our new members!
To post a message - send it to: FWFanatics@ttsw.com
To post a message to the For sale list - sent it to: FWForSale@ttsw.com
To pay dues http://ttsw.com/JoinLists.html
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From: "Royce"
Subject: manufactured in Great Britain
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 19:08:40 -0700
?know anything about Singer model 185k manufactured in Great Britain?
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From: "Tim"
Subject: Buying FWs on eBay - Questions for seller
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 12:49:20 -0600
I have bought 9 FWs over eBay in the last 6 months.
My rules for buying over eBay:
First, decide what kind of machine you are looking for:
1. The absolute best you can find for your collection.
2. A very nice machine you would not mind showing off at the quilt quild.
3. A good machine for using at home.
4. A good machine you could take in the RV and quilt on-the-road.
5. A cosmetically challenged machine with all parts that could be restored.
6. A machine for parts.
Second, good things to look for:
1. Description with pros and cons.
2. Money back quarantee if not satisfied.
3. Money back quarantee if not as described.
4. Professionally packed and shipped.
5. Packed to insure safe delivery.
6. Machine has been serviced, or at least sews a good stitch.
7. Seller eBay feedback above 99%.
8. Seller is a member of FWFs or ISMACS.
9. Insurance is REQUIRED.
Third, look for RED FLAGS:
1. Sold AS IS.
2. Found at an estate auction.
3. Don't know anything about sewing.
4. Poor pictures.
5. Seller eBay feedback below 98%.
6. No mention of packing methods.
About QUESTIONS to Seller:
ALWAYS ask the seller something before you bid!
I generally ask any kind of question.
It's more to test the attitude of the seller, than to get an answer.
If the sale is AS IS - Don't believe what they say anyway!
If they don't answer - Don't buy.
After you win an eBay auction:
ALWAYS send the seller a message that you expect the machine to be packed
inside
its' case so it cannot move, remove and pack separately the spool plate and
spool pin,
and to be sure it is double boxed to insure safe delivery.
I hope this helps - just beware that eBay has all kinds of sellers.
Tim
Mountain View, AR
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From: "Gayle DeForest"
Subject: Singer at Target
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 09:20:07 -0800
I just saw the Target ad today and they have a Singer for $89.77.
Anybody out there know anything about it? I'm not at all interested in
adding new machines to my little family, but it's always good to keep up
with stuff.
Gayle in Chico, CA
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From: "Carol J. McCutcheon"
Subject: European Trip
Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 11:19:51 -0600
A friend and I are going to the IQA in Amsterdam the end of April first part
of May. Have never traveled in Europe before, can someone tell me any tips
on what not to do and what to do? Plan to spend a couple of weeks after the
quilt festival exploring other countries. Maybe Brussels, Switzerland,
Austria, and Germany? What not to miss? My main hobby is quilting although I
have a few featherweights. Please respond privately.Are any of FWF's going
to The Hague for the IQA?
Thanks,
Carol in Arkansas
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Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 11:08:31 +0000
From: Graham Forsdyke
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics 2/7/2004
To Sharon
>I bought a featherweight "celery" from a private source who assured me
>case was original. It is dark blue top, with aqua or lt. blue bottom.
>Case has dark blue handle, two clasps, no lock. Inside a beige check
>paper. I have seen (on ebay,current) only one like it. The seller from
>GB states he had seen 2 or 3 like it. Does anyone know about this case.
> Is it rare? I'm new to FW, only two, this one and a centennial.
This is the standard case for white/green Featherweights.
To Gerald who said:
>Steve had this to say.
>Don't expect a miracle for $15.00. When we had a shop, we found that
>we had to average $65.00 per machine to profitably keep the doors open.
>
>I 'm going to open a sewing machine repair shop first thing this next week.
>I can tell from this that I"m in the worng business
You are in for some surprises. Like city taxes, business taxes,
rents, federal taxes, wages, utilities, insurances, stock costs, bad
debts.etc etc.
Having a store always looks attractive on the surface but I've been
there and Steve's average is not out of line and would make no-one
rich overnight.
Graham Forsdyke
Purveyor of fine Featherweights to the gentry
ISMACS London
http://www.ismacs.net
http://www.singer-featherweight.com
Bert's Vintage Repair Book Book:
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/bert/bert.html
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Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2004 22:10:36 +1300
Subject: White (celery) FW cases, etc.
From: Douglas & Anne Webb
In answer to Sharon Space's enquiry I can report that I, too, have a white
(celery) featherweight which came in a light blue case with a dark blue lid
and handle. The metal clasps are more modern than the black ones and don't
lock. The paper inside is also checked in a beige or slightly pink and
cream color. There is no tray inside the case.
My white FW has the serial # FA207905 and I purchased it on ebay from a
seller in Wales. In Nancy Johnson-Srebros's excellent book - Featherweight
221 "The Perfect Portable" (Third Edition) she talks about the FA series
Featherweights as a bit of a mystery. The Clydebank serial number records
from the Singer (U.K.) Manual do not show that series, but they were
marketed in Great Britain beginning in about 1868.
If you look underneath your white FW Sharon you'll see the serial number and
be able to trace the age of your sewing machine.
Anne Webb
Wellington
New Zealand
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From: BERNSMUS@aol.com
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2004 10:41:35 EST
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics 2/6/2004
Barbara in Ft. Meyers
Just wrote you a note but it would not go through.
I have an original FW table that I might sell.
Please write me at Bernsmus@aol.com if you are interested.
Hugs! Lyn in naples, fl.
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