Thank you everyone for your replies.

I am going to pass on the one that I was thinking about getting, and wait for a better deal to come along. I think I want a long bed, and it doesn't have to be a perfect machine, because we can do any fixing up ourselves. thanks

If it doesn't need to be serviced I think it is good. If you spend $85 then have to pay for servicing it might cost about the same.

My Mother bought me a 301A in 1956. It came with a card table that you can set machine down in and it is even with the .. Use it all the time for piecing. I do have a walking foot for it. It runs so quiet and does a wonderful job. Have a Babylock and Pfaff but do my basic piecing on the 301.

I picked up my 301 at a garage sale for 25.00, with lots of goodies and she works like a charm, so glad i bought it but i think what there asking for yours is toooo much

The slant needle on the 301 gives me a much better line of vision than I get on the Featherweight. It is great for taking to sewing sessions.

Keep your eyes open, and you will find something less expesive than the one you passed on.

Dayle

I agree that the price is a little steep on that one. I recently bought my 301a for $50.00 and it even came in a beautiful wooden cabinet that opens on both sides which is great for a big project. You will love sewing on one when you find the right one for you. Good luck.

I paid $2 for mine. Cleaned and oiled it myself. My favorite machine.

Keep looking and you will find one that is just right for you. They are very nice to sew on and they are out there. I bought one in a cabinet at a local resale shop in a cabinet and bought another one from ebay. Both of mine are the short beds and don't know what the advantage/disadvantage is between the short vs long bed. I have 2 featherweights and love to sew on them too - but really love sewing on the 301's in a cabinet. Good luck with your search.

I have 3 of them, all mocha, 2 short bed and one long bed. $50 was the most I paid, and that one was in a nice cabinet and included a rare Singer side cabinet. The long bed is in a case. They are wonderful to sew on, I almost prefer it to a Featherweight, but they can't match the cuteness factor. Since I got my purple FW, it's my favorite. We are preparing to move in a few months, so I will probably be selling 2 of my 301s.

We have heard a good old sewing machine can outlast 3 ladies, and perhaps even longer, with the care the QB ladies are willing to lavish on them. Some started in the 1800s. Not many of us can say that. Just think what all has happened to us in the last 50 years. Amazing isn't it?