same here... My uncle "helped" my Grandparents clear out their old house and "that dusty old singer" went to the dump.. My interest in these old machines began with the process of tracking down the same model/year/deals/cabinet as hers was. I have them now. but they will need LOTS of work.
I have bought three machines that the seller claimed were long time family possessions, and i asked each one of them "are you sure you want to part with this? maybe your kids will want it some day" they usually say something like "nahhh, it's not worth enough for them to want it"
Sad