A few years ago, when I was 16, I bought my mother a Kenmore sewing machine. She passed it down to me, and I passed it down to my oldest daughter when she left home (I really miss that machine! LOL) My DD has now passed it down to her daughter. 4 generations owning and using it. The machine is now 46 years old. And still going strong. We just make sure that it gets a yearly check up.