Restore a Featherweight 221 Case
Broken Hardware, Bad Smells, Torn Covering Can All Be Fixed
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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