My Story

I'm Bill Johnson, Featherweight Guy.  I specialize in the meticulous restoration of Singer model 221 Featherweights, along with other vintage Singers.  I'm a lifelong tinkerer and lover of mechanical things, especially high-quality old things.  I am also a perfectionist and I take my time to do things the right way.  I strive to perform restorations that are faithful to Singer's renowned standards for high quality.  

This is a part-time activity for me, occurring mainly in the winter months when I have more time to spend at my workbench.  I'm retired from a professional career and pursuing my passion with Featherweight restorations.  I honed many of the skills needed for restoring sewing machines from a hobby I've had for more than 20 years -- restoring antique clocks.  Those are even fussier and more complex, and the need for scrupulously clean parts and reducing friction are paramount.  Those lessons have guided the methods I now use on Featherweights.  

It is important to note that I use only genuine vintage Singer (or "Simanco", as they are marked) parts, except for the soft items like drip pads, bed cushions, etc.  In particular, every Featherweight (and 301) that I sell has a correct, vintage Simanco bobbin case.  A missing Simanco bobbin case is a deal-breaker for me when I am shopping for Featherweights to restore.  Some restorers use third-party parts including bobbin cases, needle bars, and even motors, so buyer beware!

YouTube videos

The videos posted below are from the Featherweight Guy YouTube channel where you can hear and see me in my workshop: