Originally Posted by SteveH

Unfortunately there is very little that I am aware of that can be done for this.

Think about what you are looking at. the moisture level of the paint/japanning has been reduced to the point that the material has begun to shrink. the cohesiveness of the material has been broken and the areas where you see "cracks" are actually exposed to the base in most cases.

how would you be able to reintroduce moisture enough to allow the material to re-expand without effecting the bare metal that has been exposed OR the decals on top?

if you find a solution, PLEASE let me know. I have a Shaw Patent chainstitch machine from 1862ish that I got for under $200 because of the "alligatoring" (what I usually hear that paint effect referred to) otherwise it would have been worth well over $1000