Personally, I think I would look for an old one...I've never owned a new machine, and from all I've read in the past from the board, I don't plan on buying one.. I have two 1926 machines.. all I can say about both, is that they hum.. Neither of them go reverse, or zig zag, but I've adjusted to it.. I have a 1974 Singer that also hums, and it does forward, reverse, and zig zag.. I also have a Singer in the closet that has cam, but haven't touched it. The thought of buying a machine with plastic gearsw doesn't thrill me..
Barri