I love my Singer treadle. It sews through anything! If you take a lot of workshops or classes, a Featherweight is nice (don't have one but have tried one at a class). The name says it all, the are very light to tote around. I must admit that I just don't trust older electric sewing machines (old cords and motors) so I don't have any. I think it's great that people are refurbishing older machines to use. It seems that everything made today is cheaper to throw away than repair.