Trying to clean Edison.

[vfw1948]

Today was the day I started to clean the alligator finish on my Amberola 30.
Went to auto parts store for Go-Jo and then to Home Depot for 0000 steel wool and Howard Feed-n-Wax.
Got home with my supplies and started in, followed what I read here and brushed Go-Jo on the bottom trim at the back,
waited 20 minutes and wiped off. Nothing happened.
Re-applied Go-Jo, waited, tried steel wool, gently at first, progressively rubbing harder. Nothing happened.
The only difference is now I have shiny alligator trim. Scraped a tiny spot with knife blade and what ever is on there is very hard and brittle.
This Edison has been in the family since new and I don't want to mess it up.
Any help appreciated.

Vern.

[Brad]

Vern,

Gojo (and Kotton Cleanser) will only dissolve the old wax and clean the surface. Your only choice for an alligatored surface is to strip and refinish or re-amalgamate. If the alligatoring is very slight, it may be possible to sand it smooth, however, I would not recommend this.

Re-amalgamation is preferable to strip and finish as it retains much of the original finish and patina. Folks have had mixed results with re-amalgamation. My experience has been so-so so I would not recommend starting on an heir-loom.

Personally, I prefer the look of age on my phonographs. If I were lucky enough to have a machine that has a family history, I would just clean it up and celebrate it's history.

Be sure and post before and after pictures.

Good luck.

[Jerry B.]

I think Brad gave you good advice. I tried re-amalgamation and did not like the results. I've done dozens of refinish projects with good results. Can you post a photo of your machine? Unless it's just plain unpleasant to look at, I would use the products you alreasy purchased and enjoy your cleaned and slightly crazed Amberola. Jerry

[MicaMonster]

STOP! STOP! STOP! WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!!!!!!!!

It is a possibility that at one point in its life, polyurethane has been applied over the tired shellac finish to "brighten it up a bit." If this is the case, stripping and refinishing is the only way to revive the machine.

NOW, if you are absolutely certain that it is a shellac finish, use NEW LIFE Furniture Cleaner. Link here:

http://www.newlifewoodconditioners.com/ ... re-masque/

This stuff is MUCH LESS solvent to shellac than Kotton Klenser, and it is buffered with orange oil. It is super easy to work with, as my experience with KK is that it is THICK, and doesn't spread around too easily when it isn't warm in the room.

I don't use ANY Howards Restoration products. I leave that to antique mall sellers that like covering everything "country kitch" in tung oil and furniture wax and spanking a high $ tag on them. (Me? Jaded? NEVER!)

I use the NewLife cleaner on Edison bedplates with amazing results. Patience, "0000" steel wool, and patience will bring your machine back.

Message me with any questions on restoration, I'm always happy to help another collector.

[vfw1948]

This is what I ended up doing, went over the whole thing with Go-Jo and 0000 steel wool, and scrubbed it pretty hard. It cleaned up nicely but still have the fine alligator over most of it, and that's the way it will stay, it looks nice, original, and I can live with that.
Thank you all for your help and advice.

Vern.

[Brad]

Vern,

Sounds great. Be sure and enjoy your family treasure. They are amazing machines.

Good luck.