R.I.P.

Let's all take a moment of silence to memorialize the passing of my sewing machine.
On Friday night, in the midst of making liners for my matchstick shades, it quit working. I took it to the repair shop in Saturday, where they regretfully informed me that the gears were shot and that it would cost $189, plus parts, to fix it. It's at least 30, maybe 40, years old, so I don't think I'm going to go that route. It'll be cheaper to get a new one, but that's going to have to wait until next month, because the ol' bank account can't handle it till then.
So if anyone has a machine s/he loves/hates, please let me know, because I'm in the "research" phase of this purchase. Singer? Brother? Pfaff? Elna? Bernina? White? I'm overwhelmed!