Glenn, I've been fooling with a Franklin and going nuts. There is gooey looking shellac on the decals - I'm afraid to do much there... Any tips?

I would wait a couple of days.
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Miriam, be careful with this one. It is oil that has melted in with the shellac. take a Q-tip in alcohol and lightly clean the area the crude and be careful to only touch the grude to see it this works. You want to melt the crude into the Q-tip

Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not going to well ???

Not like it would love it to go - something BUGS me... It does look better than it did. There are still rough places. The decals are a bit creepy in the first place. I think it is a bit scary because I really do care how this one comes out - so far the ones I've done have been kind of clunkers and ANYTHING was an improvement. This one has potential to look pretty good.
Before pic:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]475113[/ATTACH]

So Far:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]475114[/ATTACH]
it seems a bit grainy.

Ok a couple more pics:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]475115[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]475116[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]475118[/ATTACH]

Dung Beetles all over that machine.

The dung beatles are called scarabs. and yes this machine could look grand. The decals are in good shape. Nothing more than a clone of the Singer 27. Same shuttle and bobbins(wasp shuttle) Okay goes easy on the decals with a little sewing machine oil. It looks like it has been stored where it got very warm. You will need to french polish this one once it is cleaned to have a nice shinny machine. The decals on this machine is better than the Franklin I have. It looks like you have a good start on it. Just continue to do what I showed you and it will come out nice.

YUP it was stored in the attic above the Amish guy's wood stove in his shop - not much ventilation in the summer either... I hope I don't ruin it. The works was pretty oily which was actually a good thing - very little rust except on some chrome... and those are still BUGS.