Terrie, I think your purchase was wonderful. I have one and I love it. You can go to the Singer site and look up when it was made. The serial number is on the bottom. I think you can still print out a certificate for it, saying when it was made. Kind of like a birth certificate for your new baby.
It is very easy to keep it clean, oiled, lubed and running great. There are also classes at some of the larger quilt shows on Featherweight Maintenance. I am sure you will love your new machine.
Mine just returned (with me) from a trip to Hamilton, Missouri. Hamilton is the home of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. Our state guild had their spring meeting there and we got to spend 3 days there. The retreat center is very nice and I can not say enough good things about all the people we met. Everyone was so nice and polite. Jenny was wonderful. She gave us a trunk show one evening and we had a half day class with her the next day.
Now to the bad part. I definitely broke my new years resolution about not buying more fabric I had to get some 10 inch precuts for the class I took. I also bought some to make a Christmas gift. I also bought a box of the red Wonder clips and a set of the Bloc Lock rulers. Very necessary purchases. Right???
The All People Quilt Resolution for this month is number 12. I worked ahead and have that one done, so I can finish the quilt I started in Jenny's class. Yeah!!
Oh, another thing Terrie. The featherweights can be addictive. I am sure you will have another someday.