Thanks, all! Now if I can get the guy to call me so I can buy her!

i just bought one this week on Craigslist and i'm thrilled! i hope you can get the one you're looking at. you'll have to post a pic!

I don't think that any one said how they sound when they sew. They have the cutest little sound when sewing. It is a quiet little sound. They are cute, fun to sew with, and remind me of a toy sewing machine but they are a lot stronger and better than one. They can go through several layers of fabric at once, but I wouldn't want to do that all the time. I would have loved to have one to sew on when I was young. By the way, I have 2 black ones, one of which I bought from a QB member, and also a barely celery (white) one. I wouldn't trade any of them for anything.
Any one who'd looking for one, have you checked with a local sewing machine repair man for one? That's where my first one came from. It might be a little more than getting one off e-bay, but you don't pay shipping and also it is cleaned and oiled for you. And you can try it out before buying it.

Anyone know where to look in the Ohio area or might know of one for sale. I would rather see before I buy so ruling out Ebay at this time.

Keep checking on Craigslist. The prices are about the same as that you would pay on eBay but you wouldn't have to pay shipping and you also wouldn't have to worry about it getting broken while it's on it's way to you. Both FW's that I purchased from eBay had a broken piece when I opened the box (bobbin winder on 1st FW and the spool pin on the 2nd FW).

Hubby found mine at an antique mall, one of those places that have lots of vendors. You might try one near you.

Just ran across one in an antique store on Mt. Desert ME, the guy was asking 450.00....I guess he was waiting for someone with unlimited income....Its folks like that that drive up the prices.

I bought my first FW at an auction. They let me try it out before it came up for bid and I love it. The 2nd one I got was at an estate sale.... and I got the cabinet with that one. It's newer, 1953 I think, and I use it all the time at my summer cabin. The most recent one I got from Craig's list. So, you just have to look in all kinds of places. They are out there and, YES, they are worth every penny you spend for them. I love the 'click-click-click' sound they make as they sew and you can't find a better stitch. I thought that a FW was too light to machine quilt with but not so. I just finished a quilt for my great niece and it was a better stitch than my expensive Viking with that $100+ walking foot.

You can take your FW any place you can sew. If you FW tips over on its side (you don't have to replace your motherboard), you can still sew. They are little work horses. You can sew on almost any thing. You are able to take care of it yourself (un-like the new machines that have to go to the machine doctors). Our FW's value only goes UP. They are EASY to use (un-like some of the new machines that take a LOT of direction and classes to get the hang of). They take us back to a MUCH SIMPLER TIME.

Thanks for the ideas on where to find a FW, I so want one but don't want to be taken and pay more than I should. I checked out garage sales today and an estate sale also with no luck, but I am just starting on my quest. I love reading about everyone's machines.