In Australia (and probably NZ) Lemair and Empisal go for almost nothing (I picked up two from the side of the road). Your friend could have had loads of them (more) locally. They also sold machines under the Pinnock name until about 1984. Importing a 110V one when they're so plentiful under other names sounds crazy.
The machine I have in the lounge room is 123 years old and still sews like new. This is why a lot of us are enthusiastic about the older models. Up to the last of the 201s, these machines don't show (m)any signs of age or wear. My latest machine is 126 years old and I expect it to also sew like it were new
