Thank you everyone for the great information!! It certainly helps with my search. I am uncertain of the exact age of my machine, my aunt passed away and I inherited it. I believe it is about 30 years old give or take a few years. It is a Singer Merritt 3140. That being said I am not very mechanically inclined and would have to pay someone to bring it back up to good working order. But maybe that would still be cheaper than a new one. Thanks again!