Sebastian the Singer 96-10

This is a sewing machine restoration project I started in the Fall of 2014 and finished the Fall of 2015. In the deviation below, you can see how it originally started out. I completely disassembled it, stripped the paint of and repainted it. Repainting was a very involved process of layering primers, fillers, topcoats and clearcoats. The gold motifs are decals applied before putting on the final clear coat.

Along with repainting, I also added a "gun barrel brown" patina to many of the steel components. Surfaces that don't have metal--on-metal contact received this finish. This protects them with a thin layer of rust that's been neutralized, giving a reddish brown appearance. It was my original intent to etch the faceplate and back plate with a pattern, but I'm going to have to do more research regarding that (it's like a tattoo, once it's done, you can't go back) In the meantime, I gave them the same finish and it looks quite handsome.

The machine originally came with an electric motor, but until I make a new tabletop (which I have intentions to do next spring) I put him in one of my treadle tables.

I name all my machines, this one is named Sebastian. I even got a gold decal made with his name on the front.


(before restoration)