cleaning up a vintage sewing machine

lizzyb1812

This is a bit off topic. The old Singers and other makes are remarkably well made and strong. There is a charity called TWAM - Tools With A Mission - that, amongst other projects, collects, refurbishes and sends to Africa manual sewing machines. Manual because the recipients usually don't have access to electricity. The machines are used for domestic purposes and to help people earn a living as well.

I'm really glad to read of someone restoring one of these amazing machines to useful life - I can still remember the feel of sewing on my grandma's old Singer - my electric machine just isn't the same, although it's virtually an antique itself being over 40 years old.

thriftwizard

If you still need something to clean the outside with, use original Swarfega & a smooth rag. Not the stuff with "extra" granules in, but the original smooth green goo - it works a treat & won't damage the decals on any but the very oldest machines. Chances are that your yellowy deposits are dried-on oil, or if it's flaky and all over, it's a kind of varnish that they applied over the japanning that kind of crazes with age - it's not essential.
If the inside needs something more than just the lint & dust brushing out, i.e. if the movement is stiff or sticking, I'd recommend a blast with WD40 or a generic bike spray. You need to protect the outside with paper or rags, as WD40 will "silver" the decals if it doesn't dissolve them completely, and spray underneath, up inside the pillar, along the arm, and under the faceplate. This dissolves old oil, which hardens & causes sticking. Then re-apply new sewing machine oil (not any other oil) replace all the plates etc. and wait for the oil to work through.
The chap who services the elderly Berninas in my workshop says that of the old machines he's asked to service, less than 1% have to be written off - many of my older customers struggle with treadling so I have to have some electrics. But like the other older machines, they were built to last. I do the vast majority of my own stitching on a 1909 Jones treadle & love it to bits - you have total control with a treadle as it can't possibly go faster than your legs! Much of the rest is done on a 50s Jones zig-zag & embroidery machine on a Singer treadle, which goes better like that than it ever did with its motor. So you have acquired something that's not only beautiful but also very useful - a real treasure!