I inherited an incredible Brother QC-1000 machine from my mother, and learned how to do the basics on it. This machine can do embroidery, lettering, and all sorts of fancy decorative stitches. It's really fun and easy to use, but I was worried about breaking it with the projects I'd rather do, like bike bags and leather work. From some internet research, a few forums suggested a Singer 201 or a Pfaff 130, and well I found a Pfaff first. It was in rough shape, so I took it apart and cleaned/polished everything I could, and put it back together. It sews beautifully now, although it's certainly not as user friendly as the Brother machine. This comparison between modern and vintage machines correlates perfectly to bicycles.
On the left, the carbon fiber, electronic shifting, wonder bike. On the right, a lugged steel, friction shifting, workhorse:
1951 Pfaff 130 after restoration:
