Is there anything better than "Free". Several years ago, 7 or 8 at least, my SIL came in the door yelling "MA". He had a portable sewing machine case in his hand. He had stopped to pick it up off the curb (because that's just something he does) and it had this Necchi 535FA machine in it. It looked brand new. The book didn't have any creases or anything. Well, this little beauty has been in my storage shed all this time. Case is a little scratched and very dusty but the machine still looks like new.
I go to a sit and sew on Wednesdays and have been worrying about carrying my expensive Baby Lock Ellegante or beloved Juki back and forth so I had one of the boys dig out the Necchi.
Guess what? It works like a charm. Doesn't hesitate at the bulky seams, loosened the pressure foot and it takes thick batting, you can even drop the feed dogs for FMQ! And to think I almost went out and bought a new inexpensive machine and I had this little jewel all along. Who would have thought it!