Featherweights that sell for $200+ should have been serviced by a professional --- IMHO. When looking at a FW, open the bottom and give it a sniff test. If it smells foul, it hasn't been serviced. That smell is from old oil collected on the felt pad. Also run the machine at varied speeds and LISTEN. The machine should hum and have no more than a slight click as the needle/feed dogs move. Sew on a variety of fabrics. The stitches on a FW should be almost perfectly straight. Don't buy it if they're not straight. The machines are easy to self-service if major parts are in good condition, but parts are not cheap. That should factor in to the price.