I recomend Singer as well. I have one from 2000 something, and it is just fine, but about the same as yours, but I can quilt on it, and 4 layers of demin it does without an problem. Well, not much, if you go slow. My other is also a singer from the 80s. Aside from a speed control problem and it is ridculous to thread, it is my workhorse. Then what I would recomend and you have probaly never heard of is a Riccar. They are really good quality, I have one from the 60s, but I have heard they are really good still. Ready for me to stop talking about my sewing machines yet ;)?