Hello, Tom.
My understanding is that toy sewing machines were once much better constructed than they are now, and, in fact, I would love to have a genuine antique toy sewing machine. What I am leading up to is that whereas a typical antique toy sewing machine would evidently have a genuine metal handwheel, and some sort of metal bearing support, my poor little plastic model would not take the lateral thrust on its plastic bearing. Of course, I could install a proper bearing, and a proper flywheel, and I probably will do that eventually. And you know, Tom, steam engines deliver their best torque at lower RPM's, right?
Hmmmm... :-)
Mike