I bought a Necchi made in Italy in 1952. Black, all metal, a real workhorse. Bought another Necchi in 1974 when the freearm came out. By that time they were made in Japan and it never sewed like the one made in Italy. Got rid of that one in a hurry and kept and used the first one until 1986. Kept going from one machine to another until the day came when I finally ponied up and bought my first Bernina and dearly love it to this day.