Shop in different places.
Monday we brought home a Singer 338K in a nice double lid cabinet for ....... $12.50.
Tuesday we went back and picked up the 201-2 in the 4 drawer cabinet for $75.00.
Both machines needed cleaning and lubing and the 338 needed a tension part.
Both machines LOOK LIKE NEW.
In another antique shop we found a Singer 5255 (?) with a few accessories for $35.00. Looks good externally, but I have not checked it out. Could be a diamond in the rough.
On Goodwill on line auctions we've bought a number of machines that are nearly new and only needed a surface cleaning and a good oiling. Most of them cost us less than $50.00.
They are out there.
Joe