These old cast iron Singers are real workhorses and that is why we love them. They sew a really good 1/4 seam for quilting and plow through all kinds of fabrics. My Bernina has a special bobbin and special needles and has to be cleaned every 6 bobbins. The Singers just go on and on, very solid and dependable sewing machines. My DH can work on these and have them humming like new if I break a needle in it or something. Not so my Bernina, it would mess up the electronics. They are just good machines, what can I say ?