I bought a used Elna SU in 1975 and wore it out. All I can say is try hard to wear it out... And get you $40 worth... Ivan if the machine doesn't work you should have $40 worth of parts. If you keep it cleaned and oiled I think it should be good for a very long time. That was why mine wore out. Clean the bobbin area every time you change a bobbin. Lint goes down in the gears and you are sunk.
Your pictures aren't loading all the way on my iPad but I think I have an Elna just like that. I'm thinking it has a couple different stitches and should be a really good basic machine if kept cleaned, oiled and used often. The spool pins should pull up. Some make a terrible racket when down. I would tend to leave them up so they don't break. You are very lucky to have a manual!
Last edited by miriam; 04-02-2016 at 09:39 AM.