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-   -   GE Model A "Pre-Featherweight" (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/ge-model-pre-featherweight-t211885.html)

SteveH 01-25-2013 10:32 AM

All it takes is spending too much time cruising Craigslist, searchtempest, ebay, and other sites like that...

Patticake59 01-25-2013 11:49 AM

I want one also!

SteveH 01-25-2013 12:09 PM

like looking up on craigslist "salesmans sample"
http://topeka.craigslist.org/atq/3485429957.html

Carol34446 01-25-2013 02:48 PM

Love it, and the color-I want one, so cute and the color is my favorite.

SteveH 01-25-2013 03:01 PM


Originally Posted by Carol34446 (Post 5813285)
Love it, and the color-I want one, so cute and the color is my favorite.


If you were referring to the GE machine, it only came in that color. Prior to that when it was called a "Standard Sewhandy" (NOT to be confused with the toy that Singer later applied this name to) the Sewhandy was available in tan,black,green,and blue, if i remember correctly.

It was an amazing deal that was struck by GE, "Make 5,000 in one color, in one style, and while you are doing that you cannot make ANY with other brandnames or colors. WOW... GE plays hardball..

aronel 01-25-2013 03:12 PM

I want one!!!!!!!!!!!

BoJangles 01-26-2013 06:52 AM

Steve, I looked up your G.E. Sewhandy Model A in Nancy Johnson-Srebro's Expanded Third Edition, Featherweight 221 the Perfect Portable. She is considered the most knowledgeable person on the FW and its history. On page 15 of her book she says, "I believe the Sewhandy was the immediate predecessor of the FW, or at least it strongly influenced its design. There are too many similarities between the two machines. This conjecture on my part has been supported by many correspondents, but disputed by others."

She also goes on to say that some people think Singer's Class 24-80 Portable Electric Chain Stitch machine inspired the FW. Nancy does not believe that to be true, as there are too many differences in the FW and the 24-80, but the 24-80 did have a similar carrying case to the FW. She makes no mention that G.E.s Model A had a similar carrying case? I am wondering if that case is not from a FW? It seems funny to me that Nancy Johnson-Srebro would make a note that Singer's 24-80's only similarity to the FW was its carrying case, but she does not mention the Model A having a similar carrying case? Just curious!

Nancy

BoJangles 01-26-2013 06:58 AM

Actually, I went back and looked again at your carrying case and see it is stamped GE! I am wondering if you discovered something that Nancy Johnson-Srebro did not know? Or maybe, it was such a given that she does not mention the GE Model A's carrying case at all? Singer had one for the 24-80, GE had one for the Model A, then Singer did the same case for the FW? But, I don't understand why Nancy does not show the GE Model A with the black carrying case in her book? It is interesting to me that she mentions Singer's 24-80 carrying case but not GE's Model A.

Nancy

grant15clone 01-26-2013 07:00 AM


Originally Posted by BoJangles (Post 5814525)
Steve, I looked up your G.E. Sewhandy Model A in Nancy Johnson-Srebro's Expanded Third Edition, Featherweight 221 the Perfect Portable. She is considered the most knowledgeable person on the FW and its history. On page 15 of her book she says, "I believe the Sewhandy was the immediate predecessor of the FW, or at least it strongly influenced its design. There are too many similarities between the two machines. This conjecture on my part has been supported by many correspondents, but disputed by others."

She also goes on to say that some people think Singer's Class 24-80 Portable Electric Chain Stitch machine inspired the FW. Nancy does not believe that to be true, as there are too many differences in the FW and the 24-80, but the 24-80 did have a similar carrying case to the FW. She makes no mention that G.E.s Model A had a similar carrying case? I am wondering if that case is not from a FW? It seems funny to me that Nancy Johnson-Srebro would make a note that Singer's 24-80's only similarity to the FW was its carrying case, but she does not mention the Model A having a similar carrying case? Just curious!

Nancy

Nancy you make a good point. Looking at the case I saw the hole for the spool of thread cut into the bottom of the lift out drawer. It lines up perfectly. This would lead me to believe that the hole was made by the owner modifying a case to fit, or it is the original case. The original color of the case is Green, is it not, and painted black? If it was green to begin with, it would make me think that it is all original to the machine. I have not seen a green FW case. Either way though. I still want one.
~G~

BoJangles 01-26-2013 08:42 AM


Originally Posted by grant15clone (Post 5814549)
Nancy you make a good point. Looking at the case I saw the hole for the spool of thread cut into the bottom of the lift out drawer. It lines up perfectly. This would lead me to believe that the hole was made by the owner modifying a case to fit, or it is the original case. The original color of the case is Green, is it not, and painted black? If it was green to begin with, it would make me think that it is all original to the machine. I have not seen a green FW case. Either way though. I still want one.
~G~

Well, the carrying case for the 221K7 was green with ivory trim. It is just curious to me that Nancy Johnson-Srebro is trying to convince us that GE's Model A is the predecessor to the FW. She has a picture of the Model A on page 15 of her book, but does not show the case. Granted, she probably didn't have the case, but if there were a photo of the Model A along with the case - like you have the whole set up - it would be very compelling evidence to me to make her point. In her book, she does mention the scarcity of finding a Model A, and that the Model A "does not command the prestige factor nor the monetary value of a FW." I am still wondering if Nancy knew that the Model A also had a similar carrying case? It would make sense to me for Nancy to have the whole set up pictured and not just the machine to had credence to her point. I love discovery, love to learn!

Anyway, the Model A will never be as popular as the FW, partly because it has no reverse, but, now we all want one!

Nancy


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