Adding my voice to the others, these old machines are relatively easy to maintain and repair. I even managed to replace the needle bar on a Singer 99 with very little help from DH. This board and the internet in general (google is your friend) are great ways to get advice. I learned the bit about needle direction on my 201. I had bought it at an auction and thought it wouldn't sew. It was several years before I obtained a manual and discovered I just had the needle in backwards.
