Restoring my Featherweight

Featherweights...they're so cute, so practical and so very collectible! I was lucky enough to buy one (an early 221) at auction a few years ago knowing it was a great deal and took it to my local sewing machine repairman the next day. He checked it over and made sure it worked properly, especially the electrical parts. And I neatly tucked it away in a closet, never used until a few weeks ago when I got the bug to use it during our oh-so-snowy and very cold winter days. But I realized I was missing the cushions on the bottom (to keep it from sliding around and scratching the table, not that the table is anything special). My friends at http://april1930s.com/ keep me informed about parts, attachments and all ephemera concerning these wonderful little work horses. And one of their emails caught my eye right when I needed it: a tune-up kit for the 221 Featherweight!  I ordered one and proceeded to put the new cushions on, replace the felt inside (where the oil may drip and get nasty) and generally give the machine a polish with some of their wonderful Zymol polish. The best part was plugging it in and actually sewing on it!  I made a really cute star pincushion from a kit a good friend gave me....so much fun with the 1/4" quilting foot that came with the machine along with some other interesting feet.

But then I looked at the case.....it was a mess and was just begging to be restored.

So with my "Featherweight and I Complete Maintenance Book" from April 1930's I forged ahead with Elmer's wood glue, a jumbo black Sharpie Marker, black Kiwi Edge Ink and finally black Kiwi Paste Shoe Polish. I carefully cleaned the original locks. Then I ordered a new handle from April 1930s since the old one was in sad shape. Talk about a transformation, and it smells better, too (no more musty been-in-the-attic-too-long smell)!  Love this machine!!  Take a look at the results below. Sooo much better than it was and it's not going to hide in a closet anymore! Now I just have to figure out how to use the other foot attachments that came with my Featherweight.....