| What is a Blackside 221? Manufactured before and after WWII when
chromium and nickel were difficult to come by, the Featherweight Blackside machine
has a japan finish and gold decals identical to the Standard 221
but its faceplate is not plated like the standard machine, it  is coated black.The coating provides a dull,
non-reflective finish. All parts on the blackside machines are standard, the finish is
simply different.
Although the handwheel rim on
the majority of Featherweight 221's prior to AG818000 is silver, the handwheel rim on all
reported blackside machines is the shiny black japan finish.
Additionally, the backplate on
the stitch length regulator is solid black (with the exception of the stitch length
markings) and the presser foot lifter bar on reported machines is predominantly shiny
black instead of silver. The bobbin case, bobbins, presser feet, and some attachments and
accessories may also have originally been black.
After more than 50 years it is
likely that these machines are not in 'original' condition—parts break,
become misplaced, and get replaced. It is unknown whether all blackside machines included
a black handwheel rim, presser foot lifter bar, bobbin case, bobbins, presser feet, and
accessories ... and it probably will never be known.
There are also non-blackside
Featherweight machines in the two known production runs that have a black presser foot
lifter bar.
The Featherweight 221 was not
the only blackside model Singer produced and not the first; i n the AF and AG series there are model 66, 99, and 128 machines with black coated faceplates,
presser feet, and accessories.
The serial numbers of
blackside 221 machines are not consecutive, they are intermixed with standard machines in
the production run. There are currently two identified production runs that contain
Featherweight 221 blackside machines—July 1, 1941 and September 19, 1945.
An AF Serial Numbered Featherweight Blackside?
In September of 2000, a Featherweight with the serial number AE or AF773332 was
reported by its owner as having a black faceplate, black handwheel rim, and silver presser
foot lifter bar. I have recorded it in the database as having an AF serial number.
It is certainly possible that the faceplate and handwheel rim are not original to the
machine and if the machine has an AE serial number prefix, it is logical to assume that
the faceplate and handwheel rim have been replaced. If it is an AF machine, here are some
points to be considered:
- The 'manufacture' date for AF773332 is February 12th, 1941; the 'manufacture' date for
the first AG blackside is July 1st, 1941.
- There are 236,590 units separating the two serial numbers.
- The database contains 27 other 221's with a production date of February 12th, 1941, all
of which are standard machines.
A Featherweight Blackside with a Plain Black Faceplate?
The faceplate on all reported machines in the first two AG runs—July 1, 1941 and
September 19, 1945—is the standard scroll plate with a black coating. Information on
the single machine from the production run of November 22, 1946 was obtained from
the book, "Featherweight 221 - The Perfect Portable" by Nancy
Johnson-Srebro. The author reports that this machine has a black pressed steel faceplate,
much like the faceplates used on the 221K white and 221J tan machines, a black handwheel
rim, and a teardrop shaped faceplate retaining screw.
After studying the picture of this machine on page 72 of the 1997 edition of
"Featherweight 221 - The Perfect Portable", a member of Featherweight Fanatics pointed out that any
Featherweight 221 can appear to have a 'teardrop' shaped screw by raising the presser foot
lifter bar and simulating the angle at which the picture was taken. I believe it's logical
to conclude that this machine has a round screw head like all other machines.
It would seem the only thing this machine has in common with other blacksides is that
the faceplate and handwheel rim are black. However, the serial number of this machine is
over 65,000 units after the handwheel rim on 221's is predominantly black, therefore the
only attribute this machine actually has in common with other blacksides is that the
faceplate is black.
The faceplate on this machine, however, is different from the first two runs and may be
from a 221K white/green or 221J tan/beige machine. Faceplates from these machines are
easily identified; they have a small slot approximately 1/4" long and 1/16" wide
at the very top of the faceplate that is used to locate a supporting screwhead.
The database contains 468 other model 221 machines from the November 22nd, 1946
production run, all of which are standard machines. Additionally, 59 standard
Featherweights with serial numbers ranging from AF to AM have been reported with repainted
or stripped and plated 221K or 221J faceplates.
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Standard Faceplate |
Blackside Scroll Faceplate |
221K White Faceplate |
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