Mickey2

Since you have a lot of Brothers it might be good to try something else? A Singer 401 is very solid and capable and it does have a lot of stitch patterns. It has all metal gears, everything I look for in a vintage machine. Models in the 400, 500 and to a lesser degree 600 numbers can be all metal. Models 319 and 320 take a slighly different needle system and doesn't come in as many sizes and types (rounded, stretch, various leather tips) as regular domestic, but are definitely well built machines. There was a two tone green 320 here a few weeks ago, the price was right and I regret I wasn't quicker ;- )

It depends on what type of cam patterns you think of, I guess the newer Brother PC420PRW has a few stretch stitches, and stitch patters with back step (movment of needle and feed dogs are independet). Most of the older zigzaggers which takes cams don't have this back step feature, the exception, as far as I know, is Elna Supermatic (1952) and a few German machines intruduced in the late 50s. (I think Gritzner, Adler, Ideal, maybe Phoenix might have had a few models with the more advanced cam mechanism). Again I think Japanese made machines caught on to this in the 60s, and you will find models of Brother or Janome origin with stretchy stitches and equivalent utility and decorative stitches. This feature gets more common in all brands by the 70s, but still; Bernina didn't have it until the 80s. (Bernina never had individual cams, but built in cam stack)

The cam type which does these stitches have two layers, they are called doble cams, flexistitch, magic, some machine have a built in cam stack with these features. Many Singer Touch & Sew models (690 and various 700 numbers) from the 70s have them.

This is the reason I fixed up an old Elna Supermatic, I ended up with a late 50s two tone beige-tan model. I can easily recommend you getting one it should turn up near you. There is one thing you need to know about this model; it likely needs to have the rubber pulley behind the hand wheel replaced, at least sanded down (which is a minor thing) and maybe treated with the type of reson cube they use for violin bows (gives old rubber back it's grip). I was lucky to get an aluminium pulley fitted with rubber O-rings, easy for later maintanance. The other issue, it's not all metal, there are a few plastic gears; if you don't mind DIY there are help and tutorials on how to replace them.

I have recently discovered a few older German models from the 50s to early 60s; often under names like Adler, Phoenix, Ideal, and more common Pfaff. Not all of them are all metal, some are, there's option for cams, and best of all they run very nicely. I lean towards flat bed models in a cabinet, but freearms have their advatages and have all the same features.

I have notice a few very nice Kenmores, the later ones are Japanese made. Does anyone know which year they were bought up? Either can be good.

Berninas are nice too, from 500, 600, 700 and 800 series. The flat bed models are as far as I now all metal except for the gear turning the cam stack. The flat beds are more heavily built, the parts under the base at least, the upper part is usually identical. The freearm models are more light weight to accomodate the narrow free arm build. They are still solid and capable machines. There are two types bobbins for the flat beds; rotary hook, industrial bobbin and case (they run faster), some have the same bobbin case and CB hook as the freearm models. A 730 freearm is one of my favorites.

My approach is to take a chance on what turns up on the moment, and not track down a particular model. I do that too if I have my mind set on something very particular, but I keep my mind open and look at each machine individually. Some machines like the Phoenix turned out as a very nice surprise. I don't pay too much for any machine at the moment, I have two nicely running machines and I know they often need a bit of work and money to get them up and running again. The older they are the likely it is they need rewiring; not impossible but it takes time.