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E. Copies of Featherweights
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Date: Fri, 15 Sep 1995 23:53:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: Carolyn Canady cn1654@coastalnet.com
Subject: FW Look-Alike
Hello!
I cannot find the message now, but someone wrote asking about the "Little
Giant" sewing machine that looks like a Featherweight advertised in the
October issue of QNM. I decided to call today to ask about this
machine. It is a new machine and is made in India. The man selling the
machine has an antique sewing machine museum. He also sells
Featherweights.
The man I talked with, Frank Smith, said he has been in the sewing
machine business for 32 years. He told me in detail the differences in
the machine. The new one is all metal, as the original, and "looks like
the Featherweight." The bobbin case is different. It is in the same
place, but made differently because it would be too costly to reproduce
the same bobbin case. The motor is different and the foot control is
different. It comes in a case similar to the original. He said extra
bobbins can be purchased from any sewing machine repair shop, it is not
an uncommon size bobbin. The attachments for the original will fit this
"Little Giant." It does not come with a box of attachments.
I am passing on this information only because I found it interesting,
certainly not to encourage or discourage anyone about this machine.
Mr. Smith says he has the only sewing machine museum in the United
States. Also, he said his most prized possession in the museum is
Aunt Bea's (Andy Griffin Show) sewing machine, and it is still threaded
with the same thread she left in it. This museum is in Arlington, TX.
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Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 10:28:37 -0700
From: cb1@osi.com (Carrie Bryan)
Subject: new FW's from Singer
Singer is indeed making new machines it calls Featherweights. However, this
is not a cause for rejoicing. My Singer man, who is saddled with the task
of selling them, says they're complete junk and refuses to dignify them with
the name.
Singer called the original Featherweights "Portable Family Machines", and it
was we happy users who nicknamed them FW's. Now Singer is trying to capital-
ize on our affection for the old machines and con us into thinking that what
they're calling FW's are anything like our babies. Don't let them get away
with it!
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Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 20:43:13 -0400
From: DPeder7700@aol.com
Subject: FW Even Feed Foot
About some of the FW copies of recent years. Back in the mid 1980's
some shops were selling a copy dated 1987 for $299 called Mal's Mini Classic.
They were produced in Los Angeles at 6316 W. Third St. and the shop owner
claimed to me that this company had purchased the original dies from Singer.
The machine certainly looked like the original FWS but was of very inferior
quality material, the light was mounted on the motor, the front decal said
"Mini Classic", and it had a 1/16 HP motor. It sewed like a nightmare!!
I've seen mail about the little Giant and the FW copy at Costco so watch out
that you don't get fooled into buying one of these fakes.
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