About the double belts- I read somewhere that gives it more power. Can't remember where I read it. Now consulting with resident engineer for the edumacated opinion. Ahhh, yes. The belt from the motor goes to a larger gear, which slows the rpms, but increases the torque, and this effect is replicated by the second belt to the handwheel. So, it gives it a lot more torque, which makes it able to punch the needle through thick stuff better. So, there we have the Reader's Digest and Encyclopedia Britannica versions.