It was a bit expensive for a machine that needed a lot of work, but not very much. Almost any conditon machine fetches about half of what you payed, at least within reason, a bentwood case in itself easily fetches around this sum. Motors often look bad, but when cleaned, greased and rewired they get a new lease of life, a completely burned out motor is a different case. I'm sure your husband are onto it. Was it a Singer motor? It can be worth the time and money to save it, especially the light.