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SINGER SEWING MACHINES
Featherweight 221
Although introduced in America in 1933 the Singer 221 Featherweight was not put into production at Kilbowie, Scotland until 1947. The main castings were aluminium and with its case and accessories weighed just 18lbs so it was light and portable. It was extremely successful and excellent sales meant it was produced in large numbers.
As sales declined the Singer Company in Great Britain introduced a pale turquoise (white) 221K in 1955, this version was only made at Kilbowie and was not sold by Singer in the USA. It was slightly lighter than the black 221, having a shorter extension table, an internal toothed rubber belt linking the top and bottom gears and the later models had a full width foot controller. There was also a beige version of this machine which was made both at Kilbowie and also at St John's, Canada.
In total some two million 221 and 221K models were produced before production ceased in the late 1960's.
MANUAL:Follow this link to a FREE copy of the
c1951 Singer 221K Manual.
DATING: The date of commissioning for Singer sewing machines is available online go to Singer Machine Serial Numbers.
It is important to note the date of commissioning is NOT the actual date of production which would have been some weeks or even months later.
Featherweight 221K Centenial Serial No. EG303509.
This machine was one of a batch of 10,000 commissioned at Kilbowie on 18 December 1950 and would have been produced in early 1951 for the company's centenary and bears the special Century of Service 1851-1951 badge.
Some sources state around 40,000 of these Centennial machines were produced in Great Britain. However the commissioning figures indicate more than 65,000 machines were commissioned for production between late 1950 and the end of 1951.
The machine has been well used and has some light pin marks to the bed. The faceplate is very intricately patterned on later Featherweights this was changed to a plainer striated faceplate.
The motor sits neatly in a recess behind the pillar. It should be noted that the Featherweight machines sold in Great Britain used motors rated 210-230V which is NOT suitable for use in the USA unless a voltage convertor is used.
Shown below is the original Singer Bakerlite single button foot controller and Singer connector block (which fits into the end of the machine) with associated wires, when sold it would have been fitted with an adaptor to fit into a standard light fitting this has been replaced at some time with a standard British 3 pin plug for safety reasons.
Singer Featherweights were designed to be portable and as such a stylish case was provided. The case held the machine in the bottom with a lift out tray with the accessories in the top.
The extension table of the machine was hinged so it could be folded up to fit in the case and as there is no stop care has to be taken to avoid it hitting the faceplate thumb screw.
The case could be locked and two keys were provided. It should be noted that the keys for the British and American models differred.
The British ones have No.4 Made in England on one side and Pat.No 481600 on the other. The keys that came with this machine have a tiny manufacturing defect - the IN has the N reversed!
The Featherwight was supplied with two manuals, the first is specific to the 221k and covers the operation of the machine and attachments. The second is for the B.R.K motor, it's a generic manual covering not only changing the brushes and lubricating the motor but also fitting both a motor and a light to a 99K.
Featherweight 221K Serial No. EY847067.
This machine was made in Kilbowie probably in 1967 and came in a two tone blue carrying case unfortunately without its manual or accessories.
The machine is generally in good condition except where the foot controller which is permanently wired to the machine has caused a couple of minor chips. Attached to the front right of the base was a 'Singer Quality Tested' label with the numbers 45. 13. 6 this has been carefully removed and kept.
