[captainslack]

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]

[skyscraper]

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.

[Phlogiston]

Soap and water. NO BRASSO.

[TA Forbes]

WD-40 works well and will not remove the "bronze" effect on it.

[captainslack]

Cool! Thanks a lot!

[morzh]

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.

[captainslack]

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?

[tab10672]

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.

[TA Forbes]

The "bronze" coloration is correct.

[morzh]

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.