I met someone, through a purchase, who knows way more about sewing machines than I do. She knew I was a newbie to working on them and I guess she thought she would have some fun. She was cleaning out old machines and projects she knew she would never get to and gave me three Touch & Sews. I, naively, thought I would be able to get them up and running in no time and so eagerly took them. Only after she knew they were safely out of her workshop and in my garage did she refer to them as "Curse & Throws". Now they are in the trunk of my car, along with one I picked up on my own thinking I might be able to fix it, waiting to be recycled.
I know this doesn't add much to the thread but bkay suggesting not to invest any money to speak of in them is good advice, but a little late in my case!