It amazes me to look at the engineering in the old machines. They were so intricate and yet they have held up over such a long time. Each of them is different in how they work. It totally fascinates me. Then I look at an old Japanese straight stitch. No nonsense there. It is so amazing how these are put together!!! You sure don't see much when you look in the new plastic and stamped metal machines - is it any wonder they don't hold up and you can't get anybody to repair them??? I guess I can't bear to see the old vintage machines discarded by the same people that talk about everything being 'green'... Wanna go green? Get a vintage sewing machine and learn to use it - the cost is less than ONE service call for your newer machines and with the internet you can probably find a service manual and fix anything that would go wrong. Almost every city seems to have someone who is buying machines at yard sales, fixing them up and selling them if you aren't comfortable doing the repairs.