I'm so envious of you Kenmore owners who have had your machine forever. I got my Kenmore in 1976. It worked great for many years with light use until someone borrowed it without my authorization, not long after I started quilting. I think I had it back for repair at least 5 times for the tension after that before giving up and trashing the thing. <sigh> Anyway, I'm going to get a back-up class machine and will likely go with a Janome of some kind, so it's good to know this about Kenmore. I had thought about getting an Activa as a backup, but even used, they are over $500 and I'm thinking I want a mechanical as a backup rather than another computerized machine. I can service those machines as can my sister.</sigh>