•  Singer Featherweight machines were produced in black, beige/tan and  white/green (what the company called Pale Turquoise)
  
  
•  There were no red, blue or any other colour machines although many have  been repainted in later life and new decals added
  
  
•  Black 221 machines were produced at Elizabethport, New Jersey, and at  Clydebank, Scotland
  
  
•  Beige/tan machines were produced at Clydebank and at St John's, Canada
  
  
•  White/Green machines were produced only at Clydebank
  
  
•  222 Freearm Featherweights were produced only at Clydebank
  
  
•  Many UK-built machines were sent across the Atlantic to have motors fitted  in Canada for the North American market.
  
  
•  There was no difference in build quality between either of the factories. Both  used identical tools for manufacture and raw material specifications were the  same
  
  
•  The fabric/rubber belt on White/Green machines does not break. In fact it  makes for a quieter and slightly-lighter machine
  
  
•  Repairmen did not like the White/ Green machine and spread rumours about  its unreliability. Not true. The reason it was not favoured in the trade was  that because of the belt the whole machine could not be dumped in cleaning  fluid as a quick and easy service option
  
  
•  Far more than 9000 Freearm machines were made –– probably ten times  that number but still the rarest variety
  
  
•  The 222 Freearm was not marketed in the USA. American Singer bosses  thought it would be too expensive to have a ready market. It was sold in  Canada, England, Australia and much of Europe
  
  
•  The Standard 221 black Featherweight was for many years Singer's top  selling model
  
  
•  Featherweight tables and cabinets were not marketed outside of North  America
  
  
•  It is not possible to accurately state the manufacturing date of any Singer
   Featherweight. Singer claims to be able to do this, but the information the  company gives out refers to the dates on which large batches of serial  numbers were released to the various factories. It's pretty safe to assume that  a particular machine was not made before its "birthdate" but it could have  been produced considerably later
  
  
•  It is impossible to state the exact date on which minor specification changes  took place – for example the switch from "deco" face plate to straited  design. Parts bins at the factory were topped up as they became low and it  was quite possible for an early feature to appear on a later machine as the  parts bin got lower again
  
  
•  The appearance of "straited" face plates on earlier machines can be explained  in two ways. 1) If the lower thread guide was broken off the deco plate on  an early machine the plate would be replaced by the serviceman with the only  available spare – the newer straited plate. 2) Dealers would often "up-date"  early machines they had taken in trade, or which had remained unsold, with  the latest cosmetic parts to aid sales
  
  
•  The 222 embroidery hoop was never a part of the standard package – it was  available as a separate add-on
  
  
•  The accessory package which came with each new machine varied through  the years

History, dating, manuals, parts lists etc

Featherweight History –– Machine Dating –– Condition Chart ––Accessories ––Parts lists/numbers –– Owners' Manuals –– Workshop Manuals –– Featherweight Facts and Myths –– Freearm Applications –– Advertising Art Work –– Cleaning Your Machine –– Identify Your Manual–– Approved Links