You are all sooooooo smart. I don't know how I haven't figured this out, after all these years of sewing with a Singer. I broke three needles yesterday on my most favorite of all machines, a Singer of some kind that I have been using for all of my straight stitch sewing. I finally quit and went over to my Elna to finish out a job I was working on; and went to sleep last night trying to work out in my mind what I had done wrong with the Singer. So I guess I'll take all these thoughts out to my sewing room sometime today and try to get it back sewing. In answer to some of your questions, I think it is a 201, not sure though. Potted motor, almost whispers when running, big and HEAVY, stays in its cabinet and hasn't been moved in 5 years.