Look it over real good. Are the wires in good shape - any cracks? Does the plug fit the hole right? Anything loose? Is the tension bent? Does the tension spring go back in place when you push on it? Does it make a stitch? Does it have the disks? Does it have attachments? Spend some time looking it over and hemming and hawing - $50 probably is a decent price - Look up the disks on line and find out what you have to spend for needles and bobbins before you go. Hopefully the shuttle will be in working order. Feel around that hook for burrs. Open up the top and look in there. Any rust? Dried on oil? How about under it? Is there gooey looking oil? Rust? $50 is too much if it is a project.