I am like a broken record but I have a Brother 1500S, that I am really, really happy with. It is strictly mechanical. It has a automatic thread cutter, a knee lift, needle down and best of all a 9" harp. The motor is powerful and sews through many layers without even a hiccup. (No I do not own a share in the company.) I've had it for about three years with daily use and never had a problem. If something ever happened to it I wouldn't hesitate to get one just like it. Oh, the going price is about $795. I wouldn't worry about not having a local dealer since the machine is so simple and straight forward.