Thank you all soooo much! I like mechanical because there is really not much to go wrong and I can service them myself. That is is One of many reasons why I bought a Bailey 17 - it is a stretched model 15 Singer. Love, love my Bailey. I also upholster our furniture and cannot have a machine that will whine at the sight of thicker, bulkier fabric. Thank you for giving me a wake up call. After all, I did learn how to sew on a dinosaur, 1892 Singer treadle which in over 100 years only needed a belt replaced.