My mom bought at Singer 301 when I was in high school (mid-fifties) and I bought a Singer 401 (or was it 404 -- it's at my DD's house so I can't check right now) in 1962. They have both been work horses and are still going strong. I've had White machines that have been just as serviceable. Now I have a Janome Memory Craft 4000 which is very sick right now and is in the "hospital." I think that last quilt did it. Sounds like the gears.

I have a 1948 Featherweight (221) and love it. Our local sewing machine repair shop has some of the newer replicas - and while they're really pretty, the gal says they have some plastic parts and are just plain old cheap. According to the tech who will eventually service mine some day, our older models will last forever. The metal parts just won't wear out. Ever.