my Mom gave her 1970 Kenmore to my son so he could repair his own jeans when he left home. It had those wonderful cams that dropped into the top to give you lots of stitches. She used it until about 3 yrs before she died (2012--so was i pretty constant use from 1970-2009)when it was so heavy she could no longer lift it to get into car to drive to repairman. She replaced it with a cheap plastic Singer and complained all the time about that new "rickey-tickey machine"! I've told my son if he goes to get rid of it I want it back--so far that hasn't happened!