Cleaning Old Sewing Machines
If you own a Vintage Black Machine congratulations, but curb your enthusiasm for trying to bring it back to it's "original condition".

Painting or touch-up is not recommended.
The dings and scratches are the fingerprint of your machines unique life.
Keep it as original as you found it.
In cleaning: Your main goal should be to remove loose dirt,
this can be done with a stiff lint brush * (S-2110).
Do NOT use any home cleaners on the black paint or decals.
To shine and also clean grime use clear white sewing machine oil * (#NK2W)
* Available in the "Operators Maintenance Kit". This oil is highly refined
with most of the wax/varnish removed to help prevent yellowing and gumming. Apply a small amount on a clean cloth, rub gently, repeat with no oil on the cloth.
Caution: Do NOT over rub decals.
I believe sewing machine oil is the one product chemists and engineers of that time period knew would come in contact with the painted surface and therefore made them compatible.
To clean the metal parts, not painted, remove only the parts you feel you can replace without technical adjustments. On these parts I recommend using a cleaner compatible with the metal type and surface type you are working with, avoid steel wool or any other abrasive product.
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