I have worked on so many old Singers and other old machines it isn't funny. I haven't seen real many that aren't keepers. There is something good to be said for all the old machines. I like the clones, too. The old European machines are very nice - some are more complicated than others. I think it depends on what you are looking for and what you are looking to do with the machine. I have a Singer 403 that I keep set up ready to use. In a pinch I set up some other old machine just for the joy of it. I also have an old Elna that I love. Why limit to Singer? Kenmore made some very nice machines back in the day, too.