The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here are the pics:

The decal and celluloid tag are too delicate to be cleaned. The celluloid tag will lose any decoration on it if cleaned. The wood grain is opened up all through the decal itself.......I wouldn't even wipe this with wood oil to brighten it up. LEAVE AS IS

pappde wrote:Here are the pics:

Pappde, in the future when asking about something. I would recommend if you can...to post pics along with your inquire. This will help avoid any and all misunderstandings from others. I had (as I wrote) seen the decal in question in your post under "machines" and although a very poor pic, was able to ascertain that it be best to leave well enough alone. I also concur with Wyatt

My attention was just drawn to this thread by a member. I must concur with the cautions made about using Kotton Klenser on decals. I know an advanced collector who was cleaning the cabinet of a machine with a large decal on the cabinet (a "K Graphophone" disc machine - a rare client brand from 1909-10 supplied by Columbia). The KK was wiped on the decal and a moment later wiped right back off - along with much of the decal's brightness. It took only a moment. The collector was sick about it.

I've also seen Zonophone ink-stamped celluloid plates effaced through the use of KK.

The product is good for cleaning dirty finishes (although I think Goop and GoJo work just as well and don't smell so bad), but I never use it on decals.

George P.

Pappde, I would clean the deals you posted at all. They look about as clean as they can get and they just suffer from wear. I'm afraid virtually anything you try to do will make them worse, not better.

Good move though to ask here first. There are many people here who know much better than I how to do it, if it can be done!

How about the cabinet?
Should I clean it with KK or something gentler?
Wax it after cleaning or just wax it alone?

pappde wrote:How about the cabinet?
Should I clean it with KK or something gentler?
Wax it after cleaning or just wax it alone?

When it comes to Berliners that are in the condition yours is in.......I would just give it a light dusting and enjoy it. As they say "it's just the way it lived". Like most Berliner's, you just put them on a self and enjoy..... hopefully with a Nipper.... . What I would (if mine) is try and complete the machine.

gramophone78 wrote:

pappde wrote:How about the cabinet?
Should I clean it with KK or something gentler?
Wax it after cleaning or just wax it alone?

When it comes to Berliners that are in the condition yours is in.......I would just give it a light dusting and enjoy it. As they say "it's just the way it lived". Like most Berliner's, you just put them on a self and enjoy..... hopefully with a Nipper.... . What I would (if mine) is try and complete the machine.

I'd also vote for the "light dusting and enjoy" option. From the pictures it looks pretty good. I have just one Berliner and I don't think I've even done the light dusting in 15 years.

The only thing I'd ever consider using to clean a decal is distilled water and a cotton swab.