I have it's twin sister (also a 1925). You will love, love, love sewing with this. You can shine it up with a little sewing machine oil on a soft cloth. One thing I learned when my husband got me mine.....on each end of the motor (if you don't already know) there are grease tubes. They don't look like much, just chrome with a hole in the middle. Be sure to use singer grease (not oil) and give each a shot....besides the usual oiling of moving parts. If you need info on how to use a vibrating shuttle you can find it online. They are really very easy. To keep mine from traveling on the table I put some shelf gripper under it .... that rubber stuff that comes in a roll with holes in it. At sewing there are only plastic tables so I have to go slower when I sew and put the sewing end of the machine over the legs of the table. Mine vibrated the table so bad when I sat in the middle I thought the two of us were going to leave the building! LOL! Your son did good. Enjoy!