I really must join in this thread, by showing some of my favourites. My problem is, where to start?
Maybe with the machine in my Avatar, which is a Singer 611g, a chance find, and a machine I love. It is similar to the Touch and Sew, without the strange bobbin, and not only has a goodly array of stitches, it can use two needles at once - no, not a twin-needle, you insert them seperately, and it also does a chain stitch. This is a slant shank machine and the template buttonholer attachments I use, produce the best buttonholes!
I bought it from a charity warehouse, and it was pretty sorry for itself. But, with a bit of patience, and a lot of damns and drats, she runs beautifully.
I have her in an old Horn cabinet, and I have to say, after the Pfaff 1475cd, she is up there with 'favourite' machines.
Jessie