Hi Charlee.
You wrote: "I opened it, and there was a Singer 201, Centenial! No power cord. Hmmmmm....marked at $35....bigger hmmmmmm.... Asked if they would take $15, because of no cord (thinking that if I can get parts for a FW, I'm betting I can get a power cord for this one!)"
That is a fantastic deal. Congratulations! I've read that the 201 is one of the best sewing machines that Singer made. I have never had one (or seen one) but I would love to find one.