[DeckApe]

I'd strip off that black paint, I hope no one has sanded the metal, If they did, you will have to remove the sanding marks before painting...

BLAST! Someone (presumably the same heathen who painted it black) has in fact sanded the face plate.

[Image: http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii66/...CF0019.jpg]
You can see the sanding marks, and this is a low-res photo. (The lower right corner has been attacked with a wire wheel and a Dremel moto-tool.) BUT... on the inner ring of the dial hole, the original Philco gold shines through and gives me something to shoot for! (And I suppose I ought to mount the new buttons while the face plate's off--at least make it LOOK good. )

So, ladies and gentlemen, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the sanding skid marks off my escutcheon? (Now I'm wishing I'd picked up that one I saw on eBay for $1... )