Very interesting replies. I will continue to try to get cheep old Singers fix them up and then try to sell them. I love rescuing them from oblivion as a door stop, or as horrible as it sounds.. a garden ornament. I guess its a hobby and selling them for a bit more than I paid will help me continue this hobby for years to come hopefully.
I don't have a basement, or big house, but I have this image of a room with refurbished treadles lining the walls and hand crank machines on antique desks and a group of women gathering together and sewing. That would be my idea of a great time.