I see these quite often for sale and wonder why. I think I may even have one, guess I need to look.

If they run right, people seem to really like those 700-series machines. But they are not the toughest things Singer ever built, hehe. I had never seen a free arm like that before I Googled it.

Sewing machine mechanics I know call them Touch and Swears. Singer had stopped making good, solid, well-engineered machines by the time this machine came out.

When this machine breaks, throw it out. I say that about few machines. Parts are plastic, not easily fixable, and - IMHO - not worth fixing. But in the meantime, maybe you can get lots of good sewing out of her.

It looks like it's in great shape.

Well, they get a bad rap these days but I love mine. I've had it for more than 30 years and have made a lot of clothing on it, including a man's suit, countless other household items--slipcovers, pillow covers, and for the last three years, since I began quilting, have pieced all the quilts I've made on it. Never had any trouble with it until about a year ago when a gear wore out and had to be replaced. It was a gift from my DH so I'd never get rid of it. But more than that, I use it every day! Even though I now have 3 other machines.

I have a touch and sew 626 from the early 70's and it's still working just fine. My husband did replace the plastic gears (1 or2, don't remember) but it was an easy job and cheap. I don't use the machine much any more but I made a ton of clothes with it and my daughter also used it for a long time. Also I have a 600 which I think is also a touch and sew and that also works great still. My point is they were not all terrible. I was very happy with mine.

I have had two touch and sew machines, a 600 and a 626 which I was very happy with. I bought the 626 new and sewed all of my family's clothes on it for many years then my daughter borrowed it and used it for several years too. While she had it one of the plastic gears broke and my husband fixed it easily, it was not a hard job. Then I taught a young girl to sew on it, so it saw lots of use. My point is they were not all bad but they apparently did have a bad reputation.