I have my mother's featherweight, made in 1938,which she bought used in 1944 as a war bride. I use it consistently for piecing. There's no better straight stitch machine. Keep it oiled, brush out the lint, and follow the basic care instructions. If you live near Kalamazoo, MI, you can take a class on the care and maintenance of your machine from owner Steve. They also carry spare parts at the shop.