Can you shoot a pic of the machine? You would be surprised what machine can come to life with a little TLC. Some times they don't look like much but sew like a dream when you get them done. Glenn has tutorials how to make them shine. I have salvaged several rust bucket machines to like new sewing condition. I never mind that it looks beat up.
Link:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...e-t261967.html
That is about a machine I spent quite a bit of time working on. The pictures I posted on the first page disappeared - I re-posted them later on in the thread. I was amazed at how well it sewed. Looks isn't everything.
Here is the poem for that machine:
old - played out - spent
not worth a dollar or cent
grubby - worn - bent
more than one dent
ugly I meant
kind of a peculiar scent
to here - was sent
time lent
oil to prevent
turned - went!