Restore a Featherweight 221 Case

Broken Hardware, Bad Smells, Torn Covering Can All Be Fixed

Mar 13, 2008

A sturdy case protects the highly collectible Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine, and enhances its over-all value as a vintage sewing machine.

Like the Singer Sewing Machines they were designed to protect, Featherweight 221 cases are simple, well built and usually worth the time and effort to repair them. Common damage to Featherweight cases includes missing hardware, torn or scuffed case coverings, and frequently, an offensive smell. All of these can be fixed by novice do-it-yourselfers.

Fix Torn Fabric

Clean up the ragged edges of a tear with an Exacto knife, and then glue any loose fabric down with white glue. Use a small, inexpensive watercolor brush to work a heavy coating of glue onto the underside of the fabric, then press the fabric in place and hold until the glue begins to set. Wipe excess glue away with a damp cloth. In places where the bare wood shows, use a black felt tip pen to color the bare spot.

Replace Missing or Broken Hardware

Carrying handles, latches and hinges can all be replaced. Companies like 221Parts and Love of Stitches sell handles and sets of new latches for Featherweight cases. They cost less than $20 each, including shipping. Though handle styles changed over the years, it is relatively easy to see which of the two styles will work on any particular case. The latches are universal and attach with small screws that are not included.

Eliminate the Smells

One of the most pervasive problems with Featherweight cases is the smell. Stored in basements and garages for the better part of a century, many have either an offensive oily smell, or a more obnoxious musty, moldy smell. Some Featherweight owners have masked the smells with things like closet sachets, dryer sheets, and automotive deodorizers, but this is not universally successful.

The Oily Smell

David McCallum, author of The Featherweight and I suggest attacking the cause of the odor rather than just trying to mask it. To eliminate the oily smell, he recommends replacing the felt drip pad on the underside of the machine. Remove the metal plate on the bottom of the sewing machine; take out the old pad and discard. A new drip pad can be purchased from a supplier like 221Parts or Love of Stitches for about $5 including shipping, or a new pad can be cut from a piece of felt and glue it in place with contact cement.

The Moldy Smell

To eliminate the moldy smell, the mold organisms must be exterminated. McCallum says heat is the best way to accomplish this. He uses a mechanic's trouble light with a 150-watt incandescent light bulb. Place the bulb in the case and close the lid as far as possible. Safety is an important consideration since the light bulb could scorch the case if it touches its surface, so check frequently during the 8 or so hours it takes to eliminate the mold.

The Final Touch

McCallum suggest sprucing up any Featherweight case with a shoeshine. He uses ordinary black paste-type shoe polish. Simply rub it on and buff it off with a shoe brush. The case should look and smell almost as good as new, and provide years of service.

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The copyright of the article Restore a Featherweight 221 Case in Antiques & Collectibles is owned by Sheila Gaquin. Permission to republish Restore a Featherweight 221 Case in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jun 7, 2008 5:00 AM

Guest :

Thanks for the great info you've provided. The only improvement I could suggest would be to have enlarged photos appear when we click on the separate boxes. Thanks, Valerie Edwards

Jan 2, 2009 7:08 PM

Guest :

I'm thrilled to find this information, particularly how to remove the bad odor in the case of the 221 I inherited. Thanks so much.

Jun 27, 2009 8:49 PM

Guest :

OK, I've never heard the one about the 150 watt light bulb. Nothing else I've tried really works, so I'm going to try this. If it works, I'll report back. I've got one gorgeous perfect very early machine that unfortunately, smells like a skunk! My ladyfriend makes this one stay out in the garage. Yucky!
David H.

Jul 20, 2009 1:15 PM

Guest :

OK, I tried the 150 watt light bulb trick on my VERY smelly Featherweight case. It worked quite well. I can't say that there's NO odor, but the case now smells about like any other nice clean case. A friend of mine knew about this trick and he agrees that it works well, but he also says that the odor may begin to come back, so with time, the treatment may have to be repeated. Even so, it's simple maintainence and it really does help!
David H.