ArchaicArcane

Well it's really coincidental that they both came out very close to each other.
Rain recommends PJ. SewClassic Recommends PJ. White recommended PJ. Lots of people far smarter than me recommend PJ. The electric motor shop said there's no reason PJ should be a problem.

You can spend your $14 or so a tube for mystery lube if you want though.

DonnaMiller

DH worked at an aircraft mfg. plant and they use a Vaseline type lubricant ONLY on plastic gears. I wouldn't use it in any of my vintage machines under any circumstances, even though only 2 get used much. There will never be a unanimous consensus, so just use what you research to be the best for your machines and they way you use them. It will be better than they were when you found them for sure. The old machines are way different than the new ones. Heck, they hadn't even invented sealed bearings in the 1800s and early 1900s. We know the sealed bearings don't last forever either.
To thine own self be true.

ArchaicArcane

And I won't use Vaseline or any petroleum product on plastic or nylon. It has the potential to "eat" the gears depending on the make up of the gears. Synthetic only on plastic or nylon in my shop.

White called for Vaseline in their motors.

I'm guessing at your DH's plant - they knew what the gears were made of and definitely knew that the gears would not be compromised by a petroleum product. Since I don't have access to the actual make up of most gears, I don't take the chance.