Advice for how to refurbish a Singer 127k 1911 Sewing Machine?

#1

I was doing some research on my great nan’s sewing machine while I am staying with my aunt and I got very excited. It has a rare paperclip decals design and is apparently a design that is only on re-japanned machines that are from the factory or something (I am still a little unclear and wary of the sources) either way there aren’t many with these decals and I want to refurbish it, or at least help preserve it.

I am attaching some photos, and any advice would be much appreciated :slightly_smiling_face:

Adding some links and info for reference too:

great site with info and pictures: https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/28/ (info) and https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/decals/decal07/ (paperclip decals)

machine with the same decoration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyaTBMjN7iQ “paperclip decals”

manual: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1003232/Singer-128.html#manual

my machine:

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IMG_20200804_214316
IMG_20200804_214316.jpg4285×3214 2.04 MB

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#2

What a lovely machine!

Japanning is a tough one… When it’s on planes I tend to leave it alone completely (although handtoolrescue on YouTube has made his own and talks about different recipes). To cure it you’d need to put it in an oven though which might not be the most practical approach.

If it was just about preserving the decals then a clear lacquer might be the least intrusive option? I’m always wary of that though, as they can yellow with time depending on the formulation, and when dealing with a nice old piece like this I’d want whatever I did to last about as long as the previous finish.

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#3

see machines like this are sent abroad *CHARITY(
there’s a book for only a tenner https://www.tfsr.org/product/sewing-machine/

#4

Wow! That’s great! I will definitely get a copy