I have come to trust all of your opinions, I have a chance to purchase a 301A, I will not be able to see it until Sunday but am wonder is 125.00 too much? It does not have a case I was told it has a handle, and that it's very clean and runs like a top, I'm suppose to receive pictures today, so I will attach if I actually receive them.
Thanks for your help
Linda B

I am no help on if that is a reasonable price to pay for a machine. But, I do want to say that my 301a is the best machine. It sews like a dream;sadly because it was not taken proper care of in its many years of service (many previous owners)...it no longer sews anything but a straight stitch. I hope that you get the information you are really seeking.

A 301 is a strictly straight stitch machine. I love mine, but would not have paid $125 for it. That being said, I think they are going up in price and it comes down to what it is worth to you. Hard working, easy to maintain and dependable is worth a lot. AnnieRose FMQs as well as she pieces.

The 301 is a nice machine, but the slant needle reduces the piercing power compared to a vertical needle, and needle deflection is actually built in to the slant design.

I would much rather buy a 15-91 or even a 201 because they've got the vertical needle and they're both good free-motion quilting machines.

My 301 is downstairs in a cabinet that rarely gets opened. One of my 15's is my main machine and one of my 201's is set up as a portable in a case on the end of my worktable so that I can piece on one machine and quilt on the other. :)

The huge open area under the arm of these two machines makes quilting large quilts much easier than it is with most modern domestic sewing machines. The 15-91's bobbin holds around twice as much thread as the 301.

The 201's bobbin holds about the same amount of thread as the 301's, but the vertical needle gives it more piercing power when crossing seams and it seems to handle FMQ just as well as the 301. It's also very, very quiet.

Personally, I would hold out for a 15-91. :)

I don't think I would pay that much for one without a case or cabinet. I got one from Ebay about 3 years ago and paid $72, which included the shipping cost. It came with the case and manual and in very good condition.

I paid $85 for mine in a cabinet with all the attachments, manual, extra bobbins and even a pair of pinking shears.

That sounds a bit high to me.. I payed about $80 a couple of years ago.

I have one, love love love it. I paid more than that for mine just a few weeks ago, and was lucky to get it. Attachments are still easy to find, even free motion quilting attachment in plastic fits.

Just a note on the sewing capability. The 301 is not a FW and has a strong motor. AnnieRose arrived with 4 layers of leather under her presser foot. The seller had advertised her as heavy duty - not. My daughter played with sewing the leather until I asked her to stop. I told her if she wanted to sew leather, go across the room and use the Elna. Annie was bought to quilt and that's all I want her to do.

I like this machine, I paid $30 for mine. Although I agree with the earlier post, the Singer 15-91 is my favorite!!!