Okay, I have to put in my vote for a Singer 221, aka featherweight. My oldest one is 1947...66 years old and still stitching like a new machine. An all metal machine will never wear out. The newer ones with plastic gears, etc. will go if you sew a lot. And the other thing is that I consider my FWs an investment. If I ever decide that I don't want to sew anymore (like that's ever going to happen), I can get my money back.... maybe more than what I paid for them. It's a win-win for me.