I have two Viking machines, both from 1977. One I have had since it was new and the other I got from a friend who went into a nursing home. Both have sewn miles and miles and are still going strong.
My husband surprised me with the new top of the line model Viking back in 1977. He arranged for me to go to the dealer and pick out the color I wanted as it came in red and white. I chose the white. I cherish that machine because of the sacrifices my husband made so I could have it. We were a single income family with small children and I know he had been planning and squiring money away for some time. I was using a straight stitch Kenmore machine that had been my mother's from the the mid 50's. His thoughtfulness still brings tears to my eyes 38 years later. My friend's is red so now I have one of each color. I keep one at my winter home and the other at the summer home.