Results to date - 3/99 - of Featherweight Survey


There are currently 2603 Featherweights on the database owned by 1820 different owners.
This is the breakdown:


There are machines representing all 50 United States, Australia, Belgium, 8 Canadian Provinces, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, Sweden, Taiwan, and the West Indies.

Below are tables showing the known ranges of 'Birthdates' for model 221 and 222 machines.
An (*) asterisk indicates this is actually the high or low serial number in that allotment.
The model number indicates Singer's records. Where their records appear to be wrong, the actual model number is shown in parenthesis.

AMERICAN :

Date Low in allotment High in allotment Model # allotted Qty on database Notes
10/3/33 AD541548 AD551534 221 20 Original price around $84. One of these was originally purchased 9/4/34, another was purchased 12/6/35
9/10/34 AD720797 AD730704 221 21 One of these has a Chicago World's Fair medallion
11/27/34 AD781921 AD791739 221 22
3/18/35 AD880807 AD889968 221 16
6/24/35 AD937818 AD946595 221-1 23
9/23/35 AD996956* AD999999* 221 3044 9
9/23/35 AE000001* AE006956 221 10 Foot pedal changed from metal to plastic midway through this run
12/30/35 AE054399 AE064320 221 17
3/25/36 AE076812 AE086063 221 17
7/13/36 AE207677 AE222356 221 18 One of these has a Texas Centennial Expo medallion
9/10/36 AE240396 AE258254 15(221) 2
11/5/36 AE294381 AE308557 221 19
3/15/37 AE408257 AE422865 221 24
6/11/37 AE538252 AE555917 221 23 Beginning of numbered tension knob
12/8/37 AE770934 AE789722 221 18 Faceplate changed to newer scroll around this time
5/24/38 AE975024 AE992174 221 31
10/10/38 AF070706* AF090705* 221 20000 23 One of these has a Golden Gate Expo medallion
2/15/39 AF161806* AF181805* 221 20000 36 One of these has a satin finish
7/11/39 AF244672 AF263782 221 31
12/5/39 AF372202 AF391406 221 20000 20 Two of these have a wrinkle finish
1/24/40 AF412935 AF425009 15(221) 3
4/10/40 AF477935 AF493281 221 26
5/15/40 AF493281 AF496659 221 11
5/15/40 AF541842 AF544666 201(221)
6/19/40 AF546100 AF556564 66-14(221) 7
8/15/40 AF571881* AF596880* 221 25000 45 Stitch length indicator changed style during this run. These sold new for around $105. One was purchased new 6/11/42. Six of these have a wrinkle finish, they have the striated or a special three stripe faceplate
1/7/41 AF740751* AF760750* 221 20000 28 One of these has the corduroy organizer
4/1/41 AF864499 AF883842 221 28
5/14/41 AF932859 AF940606 15(221) 11
7/1/41 AF998751 AF999999* 221 0
7/1/41 AG000001* AG018214 221 34 Seven of these are blackside. 
9/19/45 AG526281 AG545750 221 29 Balance wheel changed from chrome to painted around this time
2/18/46 AG604107 AG622052 221-1 23
6/4/46 AG689391* AG709390* 221-1 18
9/16/46 AG804867 AG822878 221 24
10/25/46 AG853659 AG857760 99(221) 5
11/21/46 AG858878 17(221)
11/22/46 AG869669 AG888205 221 28
2/19/47 AG971467 AG988311 221 18
4/22/47 AH050371* AH070370* 221-1 20000 21 One of these was ordered 12/46 (after the war) and was received 8/47
6/26/47 AH111971* AH131970* 221-1 20000 20
8/19/47 AH193771* AH223770* 221-1 30000 39 Faceplate changed to striated around this time
10/28/47 AH316642 AH345866 221-1 28
1/22/48 AH414609 AH443159 221-1 26 One of these was purchased new for $145 on 3/10/49. The cardtable (#312) sold for $28 
4/20/48 AH550968 AH580510 221-1 37 Motor changed from 3-110 to 3-120 around this time. One of these was purchased new for $125
6/18/48 AH641016 AH670007 221-1 37 One of these was purchased new on 11/23/48
10/1/48 AH799765 AH827702 221-1 35
12/9/48 AH973921* AH999999* 221 26079 21 One of these was purchased new for $148. One of these has a corduroy organizer
12/9/48 AJ000001* AJ013920* 221 13920 15 One of these was purchased new on 8/13/49
3/15/49 AJ103721* AJ143720* 221 40000 47 One of these was purchased new for $145
11/18/49 AJ189901 AJ227978 221-1 39 One of these was purchased new on 6/28/50
1/23/50 AJ349359 AJ388008 221-1 36 Case changed from lift out tray to shelf on left around this time
3/31/50 AJ552938 AJ598653 221-1 38 One of these was purchased new for $140
6/1/50 AJ616198 AJ653768 221-1 59
8/22/50 AJ782298 AJ820688 221-1 44
10/26/50 AJ889844 AJ937261 221-1 57
1/29/51 AK071321* AK121320* 221-1 50000 47 One of these on the database was originally sold in Brazil. One was purchased new for $150 on 5/21/51
5/10/51 AK390162 AK439250 221 60
10/31/51 AK576793 AK626682 221 63
2/20/52 AK746824 AK795313 221 51 Medallion changed to black band around this time
3/3/52 AK802134 AK808389 15(221)
8/11/52 AK984876* AK999999* 221 15124 29 One of these was purchased new for $154 on 3/12/53
8/11/52 AL000001* AL034875* 221 34875 43 Around this time the seam allowance gauge was added
12/12/52 AL158501* AL208500* 221 50000 49
4/8/53 AL371791 66(221)
4/8/53 AL374806 AL378689 201(221)
5/4/53 AL389869 AL437088 221 52 Riveted model number (221-) began to be added below medallion
10/13/53 AL524947 281(221)
10/14/53 AL525043 AL574437 221 35 Gold leaf changed to plainer style around this time
4/22/54 AL689240 AL737129 221 38
5/11/54 AL761519 AL776681 15(221)
1/17/55 AL900891* AL950890* 221 50000 62 One of these was purchased new for $169 on 11/17/56
6/10/55 AM137761* AM187760* 221 50000 73
2/27/56 AM361808 AM408558 221 62 Around this time side-tray changed to red plastic. One was these was sold new for $140 on 3/13/58
1/29/57 AM652656 AM701824 221 53
9/27/57 AM773211 AM821105* 221 20

BRITISH:

Date Low in allotment High in allotment Model # allotted Qty on database Notes
10/22/40 EC962234 221
12/24/47 EE355176 15K(221K) One of these was purchased new for $140
12/24/47 EE440203 99K(221K)
2/23/48 EE478370 96K4(221K)
5/14/48 EE574381 EE577454 221K 3 
9/16/48 EE803069 EE811303 221K 13
11/24/48 EE843332 221K(128K)
12/10/48 EE854764 EE861944 221K 4
5/25/49 EF154453 EF164154 221K 15
8/17/49 EF279761 EF288578 221K 12
11/7/49 EF552092 EF568289 221K 7
2/14/50 EF691609 EF696456 221K 3 Original receipt shows this was purchased 3/29/52 for 43 pounds
4/24/50 EF705863 221K 2
7/19/50 EF910065 EF917265 221K 4 Case changed from lift out tray to shelf on left around this time
10/9/50 EG073086 221K 1 
12/18/50 EG305050 EG312411 221K 7
2/15/51 EG345582 EG349933 221K 7
3/29/51 EG435117 EG439535 221K 2
5/16/51 EG638905 EG642779 221K 6 Faceplate changed to striated around this time
7/17/51 EG705892 EG710152 221K 5
unknown EG710294 221K
Jul.or Aug. 1951 EG711191 221K
10/17/51 EG957781* EG967780* 221K 10000 2 Medallion changed to black band style around this time 
2/29/52 EH133709 EH137508 221K 6
7/22/52 EH371407 EH379345 221K 3
10/8/52 EH626494 EH634706 221K 8 Stitch length indicator changed to painted style around this date. Note that this changed on American machines during 1940!
3/4/53 EH892062 EH899410 221K 6
7/53 222K 100
9/4/53 EJ215767 EJ216480 221K 1 Riveted model number began to be added below medallion
9/53 222K 150
11/18/53 EJ268111 EJ271261 222K 5000 3 Seam allowance gauge added
3/31/54 EJ617265 EJ626073 222K 10000 in March 6 Gold leaf changed to plainer style around this time
10/6/54 EJ908659 EJ909713 222K 3
10/18/54 EJ910263 EJ917545 222K 10 One of these was purchased new for $200
2/14/55 EK203130* EK213138* 221K 10000 2
3/14/55 EK319939* EK329938* 222K 10000 5
8/16/55 EK631745 EK636711 222K 4
12/20/55 EK987242 EK989974 221K 4
1/10/56 EK990770 EK998550 221K(15K80) 1
3/2/56 EL177459 EL186454 222K 15
6/13/56 EL539255 EL540631 221K
9/17/56 EL681869 EL684749 222K 2
1/8/57 EM018090 EM018257 221K
2/26/57 EM235153 EM239370 222K 9
8/2/57 EM601123 EM601328 222K 5
11/15/57 EM957428 EM961311 222K 10
3/17/58 EN135359 EN138845 222K 3
4/17/58 EN235294 EN237039 221K 2
5/1/58 EN327004 EN327931 221K 1
10/27/58 EN827025 EN827726 221K 4
3/3/59 EP131001* EP133500* 222K 2500
5/18/59 EP256021* EP257520* 221K 1500 2
9/22/59 EP541572* EP544071* 222K 2500 3 Medallion changed to brass with red "S" around this time
12/18/59 EP758473* EP760972* 222K 2500 2
3/15/60 ER022034* ER024533* 222K 2500 2
5/30/60 ER316471 ER317565 222K 5
6/16/60 ER318063 ER318199 185K/99K/192K (222K) 1
10/19/60 ES165344* ES167843* 222K 2500 2
11/3/60 ES170544* ES175543* 221K 5000 7
1/10/61 ES239244* ES249243* 221K 10000 17
1/31/61 ES352344* ES357343* 222K 10000 1
3/30/61 ES522944* ES527943* 222K 5000 1
5/5/61 221K
5/15/61 ES648144* ES658143* 221K 10000 12
8/19/61 ES873744* ES883743* 221K 10000 12 One of these on the database is black, the rest are tan. Some of these tan are marked 221K, some 221J
11/2/61 ET061345* ET071344* 221K 10000
1/22/62 ET237155 328K(221K) 1 
4/18/63 EV237155 222K
8/1/63 EV319021 15K(221K) 1 These and all later known British 221K's are white
9/16/63 EV386031 EV388474 99K(221K) 1
11/15/63 221
1/21/64 EV694349 98K(221K) 1
3/3/64 EV776991* EV826990* 221K 50000 7
3/10/64 EV869804 221K
4/1/64 EV886031 EV886323 460K(221K) 1 
4/13/64 EV892928 EV895069 133K(221K) 4
4/21/64 EV900256 221K
4/21/64 EV901270 EV902779 196K(221K) 2
4/21/64 EV906211 EV907883 331K(221K) 3
5/5/64 EV909763 EV913058 185K(221K) 5
5/7/64 EV914362 EV918547 246K(221K) 10
5/13/64 EV919198* EV969197* 328K(221K) 50000 44 One of these was purchased new on 9/23/67
6/11/64 EV970681 EV988985 285K(221K) 23 Foot pedal changed from button type to full press type around this time
6/22/64 EV990388 EV994718 196K(221K) 3
Unknown EY 221K 12 
Unknown FA 221K 36
8/6/68 EW061934 EW070179 221K 7

CANADIAN:

Date Low in allotment High in allotment Model # allotted Qty on database Notes
Unknown JE150001 JE160854 Tan 221J 19  Most of the original manuals with these machines are dated 8/61
The ranges of numbers above "prove" that there were:
This brings the total Featherweights made to at least 2,209,308.
89.3% are standard black 221 or 221K
6.4% are white 221K
2.9% are freearm 222K
1.1% are tan 221K or 221J
0.3% are wrinkle finish black 221
12.7% of the standard black 221 or 221K have an Anniversary medallion.
3 machines have medallions commemorating World's Fairs.

20.4% have the oil can
65.5% have most or all of the attachments
53.6% have the manual


Manual Rev. Dates: (This includes American, British and reprint manuals)

1933, 11/33, 1/34, 6/34, 3/35, 12/35, 1936, 7/37, 4/38, 10/38, 3/40, 1941, 6/41, 9/45, 1/46, 4/46, 2/47, 7/47, 9/47 (Spanish), 1/48, 1/48, 2/48, 7/48, 1/50, 7/50, 9/50, 4/51, 10/51, 11/51, 6/52, 7/52, 9/53, 4/54, 4/55, 6/55, 11/55, 12/56, 1/58, 11/58, 1/60, 12/60, 8/61, 10/62, 9/63, 3/64, 4/64, 1/65, 9/67, 9/69, 3/76, 11/77

66 of the machines are still owned by their original owners
113 were free or gifts
105 were inherited
16 were bartered
2 were won in contests

Prices paid in the last five years:

The average price paid for a tan machine was $301, with a low of $10 and a high of $550.

The average price paid for a white machine was $241, with a low of $7 and a high of $495.

The black 221's and 221K's with the Anniversary medallion average $295, with a low of $15 and a high of $600, compared to the standard black machines with an average of $269, with a low of $5 and a high of $650.

The average price paid in the U.S. for a freearm since 1993 has been $681, with a low of $40 and a high of $2,035.

There are also 196 card tables on the database, 2 with the additional extension, and 14 oval maple cabinets.