My son recently purchased a Singer 403A, which has a lever that raises the needle plate making fmq possible. I've sewn on the machine very little, but I can tell you that I LOVE it! My son got this machine at the Goodwill store locally for a mere $41. The machine "smells" new. It was and is so clean, with no dried-up oil on it, and it sews like a dream, and very quietly, too!
Jeanette