themadpatter

I like the idea of direct drive, but I need more versatility than a 15 offers.

pennycandy

The Singer 201-2 has a potted motor. It too is a straight stitch machine.

Mickey2

I think the first Singer model with a potted motor was the 101. I guess worm gears add a bit to the mechanical, so they are not all direct drive. The belt driven models are good too, I have a belt driven 201. That said, the potted motor is very neat and low noise. The closest you get to these with more features, swing arm zigzag, stitch patterns, etc., are probably a 401 and related models. They have the motor placed verticlaly in the body, driving the mechanism with gears, all metal, and there's no belts.

themadpatter

At this point, may I just say, Well, Duh! I have a 401a, which is the machine I use the most, and somehow the lack of a carbuncle motor on the back and the no beltedness of it had completely escaped my notice. I feel really dumb right now, lol. I'm asking myself, like, did you think it ran by magic or something?

Thanks for waking me up, lol.

Patti

bkay

There was/is a Free Westinghouse that appears to have a potted motor.
bkay

leonf

I've seen Free Westinghouse motors that were bolted sold to the head, but they have all run friction
wheels. Now I've got to look more closely.

WIChix

I think those motors are referred to as "Turtleback", and I do believe they are friction drive. I saw one for $25, but declined.