My first machine was an OLD White machine...prob. from the 40's, in a cabinet...only did straight stitch, but did it well! I was 16 and bought it with my own money. I had it upstairs in my bedroom. My mom had an old "New Home" downstairs...again, just did straight stitch. (BTW, this was 1976.)
I bought my second machine off of my sister a couple years later when I was 18. It had ZIG-ZAG! Woohoo! LOL I thought I was in heaven!
From there I went through a poorly made Singer from the 80's until I finally bought a used Bernina 830 Record in 1995.
I have since sold it and own 2 computerized Vikings...one does embroidery, too.