How can I preserve a 1870 Jones cylinder shuttle sewing machine?

Chrisdee
by Chrisdee
I want to preserve the timber in this beautiful old machine without damaging, altering or changing the value of the piece, any ideas please
the timber looks good just a little worn in places
beautiful old machine
  14 answers
  • Tammy Tammy on Jun 10, 2017

    Wow what a great piece! So you are not altering it I would recommend applying a good coat of furniture wax. This will help preserve and condition the wood without changing anything.

  • Chrisdee Chrisdee on Jun 11, 2017

    Thanks Tammy, furniture wax, do you recommend a particular brand

  • Telp67 Telp67 on Jun 11, 2017

    My grandmother, born in the 1800's, always used lemon oil on all her furniture and today that same furniture still looks like brand new right out of the showroom. Just wipe it on and wipe it off. She used to tell my mother and she told me that furniture was wood and it still needed to breathe so lemon oil would provide breathing room. I don't understand it but it works.

  • Doris Doris on Jun 11, 2017

    I've been using coconut oil on all my wooden furniture for years now. Just rub it on (sparingly) and wipe it in really well. Protects and moisturizes the wood the same as it does with your skin. I have an old Singer treadle sewing machine in a cabinet (not as old as yours) I inherited from my grandmother. I use the coconut oil on it about once or twice a year. It's quite dry where I live, but I find I don't need to use the oil more than twice a year. I have other old wooden pieces I inherited from my parents and do the same with those as well. No cracking at all and the wood looks conditioned.

  • Gayle Tucker Gayle Tucker on Jun 11, 2017

    For a more permanent fix, clean the wood and use tung oil. Follow directions. It will take a while but will be worth it. This is the same stuff used for rifle stocks to get that perfect sheen.

  • Emily Emily on Jun 11, 2017

    I doubt your machine has much monetary value as my Mom's old treadle machine (with drawers) does have any. What does "cylinder shuttle" machine mean? Is it a treadle or an electric machine or something else? My mother was once given instructions on how to care for an antique table, the dealer said she should "feed" it, with a mixture that contained paraffin. I still have the bottle will check out what else it contains.

    • 9530106 9530106 on Jun 11, 2017

      Cylinder shuttle refers to the working parts that move,or shuttle the thread. Weaving, tatting, etc. all use some form of a shuttle to move or carry the fiber.

  • Julia Julia on Jun 11, 2017

    I have several old tredle machines. I c!earned the tredle waxed them. Then did the same for the wood. Looks beautiful! I collect sewing machines of any era. My kids are going to have field day when I go to that great sewing room in the sky! Lol

  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Jun 11, 2017

    I just use lemon oil on mine. That is one beautiful machine looks like it is in great shape.

  • Thelma Travis Thelma Travis on Jun 11, 2017

    Mom had an old singer with a walnut cabinet...........never saw a cabinet like this one.........wondering if it was special made and not factory.

  • Chrisdee Chrisdee on Jun 11, 2017

    thanks so much everyone for your thoughts, will research all ideas :-)

  • Lydia Weikel Cox Lydia Weikel Cox on Jun 11, 2017

    That type cabinet is called a parlor cabinet as it closed up to hide the mechanics of the machine and looked like furniture made for the parlor/living room of the day. DO NOT use a cleaner for wood such as Murphy's Oil Soap, which is then mixed with water, on the cabinet or the machine. Both will be adversely affected by water based products. A mix of equal parts turpentine and boiled linseed oil is often recommended to clean old wood furniture, then any of previously mentioned oils, rubbed in and excess buffed off will work. Wax would add a hardened protective finish, but can mix with dust & soils over time. If finish is chipped, alligatored, scratched, etc., look into Formby,s products after cleaning, which can "Melt" the old existing finish and spread it around for even finish. Then treat with oil for finish protection.

  • Eileen Howarth Eileen Howarth on Jun 12, 2017

    Wood oil is best. If u put in teak oil on internet, furniture clinic sell one.

  • Christine Christine on Jun 14, 2017

    Love your machine. I have old furniture in my home. Bought at yard sales,flea markets & auctions.

    I first clean the pieces with MURPHY OIL. this is made for wood.

    Then I use a LEMON OIL to shine and treat the wood. Comes out very nice.

    Love Murphy oil for all wood objects.

  • Christine Christine on Jun 14, 2017

    I use Murphy Oil on all my wood object. I have carved wooden plates on my kitchen wall from Europe and clean them all the time ,no problem with dust buildup on them.