The good old Singer 404 was used in home ec class back in the day when girls actually learned to sew well. The Singer 404 is cheap because it hasn't caught on like the FW or the 301. It is slightly heavier. I got one for my DGD's 7th birthday coming up the 3rd. The 404 has a drop in bobbin. It threads front to back. It is well lit. There are no bells and whistles to distract. It isn't terribly heavy. It has a slant needle so you can see what you are doing without getting sore neck and shoulders.