My husband bought me one overseas in 1971 and it is still being used today! I made clothes for our children until they didn't want homemade clothes anymore, then it sat for a long time just brought out for mending. Then my daughter took it when she got married, as I had bought myself an Elna and a Pfaff. Last year I brought it back home and now it is busy making quilts at our church for charities! I think if a person takes care of anything it will last longer. Still have my Elna, and a 301A and a Singer Treadle machine, have sold the Pfaff and the Touch n Sew comes home with me every summer when the quilters take time off, I oil it up and lube it and it is ready for sewing again in the fall.