Candace,
I do believe I said something similar to your comment on other brands in my OP. Nor do I consider newer Singers as well engineered products. I was simply relating what I've found out about those I've worked on.
I can't remember if the Bernina 930 my wife has, has any grease on the gears. The mid 90s is as new as I'll go on Singers. And those are a rarety. We basically went for this one due to the cams.
Joe