Do you know what T&S model it is? T&S are not my favorite machines. However, the problem with the needle not going up and down could be because the machine has frozen up, due to dried oil, or lack of oil. It's usually an easy fix. You might try going over to the Vintage Sewing Machine thread and ask for advice before you spend money taking it to that shop. There's dozens of very learned SM people over there that will be happy to walk you through the process of getting that machine up and running again.
If you decide to buy a new machine, you might consider an older, used Singer. There's plenty of them on EBAY and most aren't that expensive. Just make sure that the seller packs the machine properly for shipping, or you'll end up with broken pieces. Again, check the Vintage SM thread for advice.
Good luck!
~ Cindy
Last edited by tropit; 03-11-2015 at 04:53 AM.