I don't think I'll call it a retirement option.

Not unless you have very low expectations for your retirement.

Not to a common 15 class clone. There are just too many of them out there still. I paid very little for all of my clones and less for my Occupied Japan machine than some of the others.

Cari

There's a mainstream interest in Japanese derived minimalist art and architecture, zen buddhism, the same for antiques of the right kind, but I doubt an old sewing machine will get you there. Swords and prewar Japanese items will fetch money and a dealer in them will fetch interest world wide. Post war Japan sort of climbed up the ladder and with the 1980s their ecomomic miracle happened. These days technology and computerized gadgets have taken the front seat. Not sure where the miracle is right now, but I doubt it's remnants of the world war occupation. Any interest will lead towards something though, it starts with small things. A sewing machine is mostly for the person who use it.

Not as a sewing machine. As a collectible labelled made in occupied Japan. There's a niche market for those items.

Yes I know that, but collectors of vases don't want a heavy, old sewing machine any more than collectors of any other niche market items do. Only collectors of old sewing machines want old sewing machines. my Japanese vases are worth more than all of my clones put together and that's not saying much, lol.

Cari