Since I stumbled onto vintage sewing machines last April I've purchased 27 machines. I've had at least 1 of Necchis, Pfaff, Kenmore (Maruzen-Jaguar), Elna, Singer, White, Husqvarna. I've gotten pretty good at only buying machines that interest me, don't have any broken parts and only need cleaning/lubrication. I know that's pretty picky, but I've been living in a small rented room in Portland and flying home to my wife and two little boys 2 or 3 times a month. I'm finishing up my work in Portland and getting ready to move back to the Oakland, CA so have been paring pretty aggressively - I'm down to 5 machines: Elna No. 1 (Grasshopper ), Viking Husqvarna 1030 (cast iron old Swedish design: strong zig zag with the gear reduction and no decorative stitches), Singer 301A, 401A and 404.
I know I have a problem because despite the fact that I don't sew AT ALL (couldn't sew a straight stitch alongside a ruler...) I really think that 5 is the bare minimum!
Brian