Allbrands has some Janome-made Kenmores on their site right now for < $100.

http://www.allbrands.com/

Contact your local quilt/sewing machine store to see if they have any 2nd had machines for sale in your price range. Also, sometimes schools sell off machines at the end of the school year. I'd avoid buying a machine from a discount store - like Walmart - because they are the low end machines - price and value wise. And I'd avoid buying from Craig's list too - no warranty with them.

That's a great idea. I hope you will let us know what the final bid is. So much fun.

I did this one year at my DD's school auction. I donated four hours of sewing lessons at my house on my machine. The person who bought me, so to speak, bought the lessons for her daughter. The girl, Jessica, wanted to make clothes for her American Girl doll. That's what we did. Later, her mom acquired a machine for her. It was a test-drive, so to speak. If she liked sewing, she could take it further. If she didn't, no harm done and no major investment

A few years ago I taught a friend to sew. Her husband had me find something under $200 so I found a Simplicity SA1100 American Denim Sewing Machine for 169.00 at Walmart. It came with a tote bag project and extra feet. It was a nice machine. I just looked on Simplicity website (googled Simplicity Sewing Machines) The machine is onsale for $129.00. Good Luck. Teresa

That is a very nice thing to auction, good creative idea.

I agree, a vintage machine is the way to go. My students that have cheap machines from 'big box' stores always have trouble with them within 3 years. There is no service available at those stores, and warranty service is not available from dealers, with good reason. A dealer or private sale is a good way to get a nice, older machine.

I was just on Overstock.com and they had quite a few machines for under $100. You might check them out. And the shipping is supposed to be $2.99. Hope you find something. It's a good thing you are doing.

I agree with the new brother I have several machines and my cheap brother has been a stand by for several yaers it just keeps on sewing if you get one with only a few basic stitches they are not that expensive

Yes, you can buy a Brother on sale for around $100.00. Watch the sales at Walmart and Hancocks. And, if you talk to the store manager at Walmart and explain why you are buying the machine, he might give you a really nice discount. Good Luck.