Hello Peter Thompson,
If it is not too difficult to bring over, a U.S. machine will
be perfectly usable with an inexpensive transformer. The savings from
buying a heavily discounted U.S. model from a department store sale
should certainly be enough to pay for a 600-1000 watt step-up converter.
I bought my first-model Panasonic in Japan (110V) and have used it
6 years in Malaysia (220V) with a Taiwan-made transformer. I often leave
the whole set-up on overnight, on the timer setting, and while the
transformer is hot to the touch, there never has been any sign of a
problem. It can be ugly and clumsy, but those who gobble up the resulting
loaves don't seem to mind.
Eugene Chan