Posts: 65
Threads: 15
Joined: Feb 2014
City: Clayton, NC
Working on restoring my father-in-law's Model 71 cathedral. It didn't have the knobs or escutcheon when we brought it home, but my mother-in-law managed to find them. Just got them in the mail today.
The escutcheon is in good shape, but it's pretty badly discolored. I *think* it's brass. What's the best thing to use to clean it? Brasso?
Here's what I'm dealing with:
[Image:
http://i.imgur.com/rVVwazbl.jpg]
[Image:
http://i.imgur.com/xrrnIxul.jpg]
Posts: 239
Threads: 10
Joined: Dec 2013
City: Columbia, SC
That's more or less what it is supposed to look like. Clean it off, but don't polish it. It wasn't shiny to begin with.
Posts: 2,118
Threads: 112
Joined: Jun 2010
City: Medford OR (OR what?)
Soap and water. NO BRASSO.
"I just might turn into smoke, but I feel fine"
http://www.russoldradios.com/
Posts: 2,353
Threads: 92
Joined: May 2010
City: Clayton, NC
WD-40 works well and will not remove the "bronze" effect on it.
Posts: 65
Threads: 15
Joined: Feb 2014
City: Clayton, NC
Posts: 15,305
Threads: 530
Joined: Oct 2011
City: Jackson, NJ
This looks good teh way it is. if there is any light patina, it only makes it nicer.
Just dirt removal, nothing else. Dishwashing soap.
(This post was last modified: 04-12-2014, 06:08 PM by
morzh.)
Posts: 65
Threads: 15
Joined: Feb 2014
City: Clayton, NC
OK, one more question!!
See that white stuff in the center of the escutcheon?
[Image:
http://i.imgur.com/j0bWGmql.jpg]
No idea what it is, but it's not coming off with gentle scrubbing with a toothbrush & soap and water. Might be paint, but I'm not sure. How do I clean it without scratching the metal?
Posts: 411
Threads: 42
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Ironton Ohio
Kleen strip will remove the paint without removing the tarnish. I personally like to shine them a little if I am refinishing the cabinet as to look like it was just made and not having been alive in the early thirties I dont know what it would have looked like when new but I'm sure philco didnt purposely tarnish new brass.
Posts: 2,353
Threads: 92
Joined: May 2010
City: Clayton, NC
The "bronze" coloration is correct.
Posts: 15,305
Threads: 530
Joined: Oct 2011
City: Jackson, NJ
Either that or any solvent that removes paint, like aceton/lacquer thinner: those will not harm the bronze.
And as always written in instruction - try in an inconspicuous place first.
