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.

Beautiful machines! Have fun treadling with that gorgeous Redeye!

Dont dare do anything else, they are magnificent just like they are, what a wonderful find. Great job of cleaning.

Great machines! Leave them in their condition, as it adds character, and shows how they've lived! :)

WOW!!!!is all I can say.

They are beautiful. You cleaned them up so nice. I would leave them as is. No touch ups.

Leave alone...touch up would devalue them...I do allot of selling and collecting of antiques and you have two winners

They are beautiful as is & I wouldn't paint them. Great find!

Your hard work really paid off. I think that touching up the paint would take away their antique charm. That shine you put on them makes them as pretty as ever.

They are simply gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! I have a Redeye and she is so beautiful. I love the way they used to make them.

Wow both great machines,and I would not touch up either they look great.

Wow. Great job on the clean up. Beautiful machines.

leave as is....................they're beautiful