Wow! Goes to show that sewing machines have always been pricy.
My husband's great grandmother had a Singer Centennial 201-2, 1950. It was her pride and joy. It cost her the equivalent to $5000 in todays currency. It is still in the family and my DH and I had the fun of rewiring it and restoring it.
Funny thing is, when Singer first started making their 99s and Featherweights , they were both the "cheaper" machines!