I have to plead ignorance in asking this question. Why do people buy the old singer machines; are they collectibles or do you actually quilt on them.

Both!

They're made like tanks whereas the new ones are made mostly of plastic.

The old machine will last forever the newer ones are disposable?!

the singer featherweights are light, have a beautiful straight stitch and have their own case. They also are all metal and last forever!

which is a shame considering the money we spend on the new ones. I have gone back to my old singer for piecing and use my fancy machine for fancy work! So I don't ware it out.

Both!

Can't be beat for reliable, user friendly day to day work. And they are so easy to maintain without running up a big repair bill-- if you keep them cleaned and oiled chances are good you will never have anything break on them except a needle once in a while!

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Both. And I think I remember being told the company was sold, which generally means the price will rise and the old standards of excellence will be flushed down the toilet. The old ones are work horses and will last and last and last. They are well worth a little fixing up. They also sew a straight, VERY straight line, which the ones with 200 stitches can't often seem to match.

I have just acquired a Singer 201 which has the reputation of being the best machine ever produced by Singer. It just powers through four layers of denim, the lining and the zipper when repairing DH's coveralls. No more bunching of thread, balking at seam junctions, veering off course or breaking needles as my Janome 6500 does. My 201 just sews with no complaints about thread tension or anything else!