The dealer who sold you the Bernina can actually tell you how many hours it was used. The last time I had mine serviced they remarked about how many hours I had put on it since I purchased it from them used several years ago. I actually traded in my 1260 which I had purchased new about 20 years ago for the newer, to me, Artista 185. In general I probably sew at least 20 hours or more a week. I own a Singer Featherweight which is the kind of machine I learned to sew on. My mother purchased her featherweight in 1936. It is a marvelous little machine but not big enough to do the kind of sewing I do on a regular basis. It also only as a straight stitch.