The Singer Featherweight 221 has been called the only machine that has its own fan club, the Featherweight Fanatics. That may not be accurate; there are certainly other popular vintage sewing machines, but the Featherweight does have a huge and knowledgeable following of quilters and collectors.

The black Featherweight 221 was in production in the United States from 1933 through the late 1950's at Singer's Elizabethport, New Jersey plant and in Great Britain from 1949 through the late 1960's at Singer's Clydebank, Scotland plant. It is a rotary hook machine with an aluminum bed and machine arm and a swing-up bed extension. The entire machine weighs a little over 11 pounds. Packed into its sturdy carrying case  loaded with accessories, it weighs a little under 25 pounds.

The Featherweight 221 is an exceptionally well-built machine that is easy to transport and sews an excellent straight stitch. But that is only a small part of the allure of the machine; it has a prestige and mystique all its own. Built when pride in workmanship was the norm rather than the goal, the Featherweight 221 begs to be used and rewards the operator with a straight stitch and rhythmic hum.

During the years surrounding WW II, Singer produced two unique Featherweights; the crinkle and blackside machines. Manufactured prior to WW II, the crinkle Featherweight 221 was either built to a special order or on marketing speculation. The crinkle machine has a dull black textured finish and a series of three parallel grooves in the bed instead of gold bed decals.

The blackside Featherweight 221 was manufactured  before and after the war when materials such as chromium and nickel were difficult to come by. The blackside machine has the standard machine's japan finish and decorating scheme with a black handwheel rim, presser foot lifter bar, and a black oxide-coated faceplate.

In the spring of 1997 I began keeping a record of AF and AG serial-numbered Singer machines in an effort to gather information on these limited production Featherweights. To date, the database has 9,500 machines. By including all Singer machines with an AF or AG serial number, it may be possible to determine when and how many Featherweight 221 crinkle and blackside machines were produced.

If you own or have knowledge of any model Singer machine with an AF or AG serial number, please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

Thank you; I hope you enjoy my website and find it informative.

       Darla M. Trenner