I found a singer 1748 that looks like it was used once maybe twice to put on sports badges. I found it at the second hand store, still in the box, with all the accessories for seventeen dollars. The mailing tag showed a man's name. So I am assuming that is why it was hardly used.

My sis has extra feet she is sharing with me. I wanted a little lightweight machine for those dog days of summer heat to use downstairs. I already had gotten a portable table, so I am hoping this is the solution. It has built in stitches and buttonhole functions. We will see. Kind of cute too since it is dark pink and white. For that price, why not try it?

This is for WDW69... I have the same machine and have not had a similar problem. Almost sounds like you have a bad connection between the plug and the foot pedal, or perhaps in the pedal itself. There's another dealer in the US named Prairie Quilt (https://prairiequilt.com/) that is a dealer for the machine. I didn't purchase mine there, but they were the first people I saw demonstrating the machine on YouTube. They seem like very nice people, maybe they could be of some help? It's worth a try anyway.

I have just purchased a Featherweight C240 and got it from Singer.com for $299.
I plan on using it for my quilting in Arizona at an RV resort. I like the integrated even feed system.
However, I don't like that regular Singer and Brother presser feet do not fit on it so I have to get all new feet just for this machine. I think it will be a workhorse for sewing everything from bags to quilts to jeans.

Have a white one in my personal collection of FW’s (6) but I don’t care for sewing with the white one. It is belt driven internally not gear driven like the black ones and I find it noisy and not as fun to sew with. But I do like looking at it.

I have Singer and Brother machines...both brands have cheap machines(you Will get what you pay for !), and higher priced models. I like both brands equally. Face it..no one makes machines like they used to...or anything else for that matter. I love my vintage featherweight and my 28K, but they have their limits compared to modern machines. What you use and like best will depend on how you sew.