I had a Viking#1 for eighteen years and loved it it did everything like you said a real workhorse. It died a slow death did not want it to die. Tried to keep it running but finnally had to give in and bought a Janome 6600. I like it but it does not have some of the stitches the Viking had which I used all the time but it is good.Hopefully I will love this one as much. Janey