I stupidly sold my 404. I want another I just can't find one. I was dumb for selling it.

well I bought mine new in 1958/59 era it still sews just fine had no problems with it.

I have the one my Dad brought home for my Mom, me and my 2 sisters to sew school clothes when we were in high school. This was about '63. The sister who had it for many years was down sizing and going to dump it!! My youngest sister saved it but didn't want it. I took it and worked on it according to the 221 book I have from Dave McCullum. Got it working just fine and use it for back-up at our AZ condo. They are work horses and if you can, get one!!

This was the first sewing machine I purchased new in the 60's. Still have it. Good machine.

I use a 401a for all my piecing, noisy but great stitches.

I have a 403A that was my grandmother's. I learned to sew on it and it still sews absolutely wonderfully! I would never give it up.

DH loves his - keep looking, you never know where you might find one. DH got his by looking up underneath a cabinet being used as a display table at an antique mall. We give a hard look at any "Night stand" or "End table" looking cabinet at places like that, to make sure it's not really a sewing cabinet with a machine hidden inside.

BTW - we sometimes ask the shopkeeper if they have any sewing machines, and they rarely know. One lady told us she thought there might be one upstairs . . . We found five of them in that place, but only one was visible as a sewing machine to the untrained eye. I'm better at spotting cabinets, DH is better at spotting cases. We both look for sewing boxes that might have attachments hidden in them.