Welcome Kirklandquilter and Mimi Sews! If you want a vintage machine that is able to sew heavy-duty, I suggest a gear driven Singer (not belt driven), such as the 201 or the 301. They have potted motors and worm driven gears which are much stronger than belt-driven machines. These are both straight stitch machines, and the 301 is a 'slant needle' machine, with the needle slanting towards you for better visibility. I also have a Singer 403 which has a potted motor (internal) and is gear driven and very strong. It's also a slant needle. The 400 series uses cams and can zig zag and do decorative stitching. These are great machines!