After three days of scrubbing and a subsequent lifetime of tennis elbow, I uncovered these gals under their layers of grime. The redeye is from 1916, and the fiddle 12 is from 1879. I only paid $20 for the 12, so I'm accepting of it's poor condition. Do you think I should touch it up with black paint, or should I leave it as is?

A big "thank you" to Billy for posting such a great tutorial on how to clean up these old beauties!

Beautiful......both of them. I personally would not paint or touch it up. I'd leave them as it. Love them both:)

Don't paint or touch up it takes away from their Beauty.

Oh, I'm jealous! :hunf: :D

They are truly beautiful and wear their age lots better than I would!!

Jan in VA

great machines

Excellent work! So fortunate that the machines found their way to you. I'll know who can advise me if I ever find a treadle. Not actively looking, now, but one day...

Beautiful and yes, leave them as they are! They have aged gracefully - better than me!

Wow!!! They are great looking. I wouldn't touch it up. I would leave it as is....unless you plan on really using it, than I would it completely repainted.

Wow, such pretty ladies ! I wouldn't touch up either.
I think the red eye is the prettiest of the vintage ladies !

They are beautiful machines!!! :mrgreen:
The red eye decals are my favorites<swooning>, I'd leave the Singer 12 as is.