The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Restore-A-Finish is good for evening out color and helping hide scratches, but as far as I know it is not a cleaner.

Clay

Does it HAVE to be a Youtube video, or a video at all?

I have a Graphophone cabinet I'd be quite willing to clean with Gojo, I just don't feel like uploading a video. I find that it takes nearly an hour to upload one.

Do you have an iPhone? Or any Smart phone? I have shot short 3-5 minute video's with my iPhone and then upload them straight to YouTube.

Edisonfan wrote:Do you have an iPhone? Or any Smart phone? I have shot short 3-5 minute video's with my iPhone and then upload them straight to YouTube.

No I don't, and I won't be getting one any time soon. I have a Nikon Coolpix which in allother respects does everything I need regarding pictures and video

HisMastersVoice wrote:

Amberola wrote:Leave it as is? It is original and it takes a very long time to get that much patina. I bought Kotten Cleanser off the web, but just can't make myself touch my cabinet. It is very dark and I know it would clean up nice. But then you have taken all that patina away and can't get it back.

Herzog740.jpg

The "patina" is dirt. There's a big difference between cleaning and refinishing. I don't personally like to have dirty phonographs or cabinets in my collection.

Well, dirt is a different story Brandon. If it's dirty I clean them also. Would you touch that cabinet?
Back to the OP 's lid, they are not good pictures. I can't tell if it is dirty or not. He just seems hesitant to do anything.

Well, the nice thing about Kotton Klenser (and maybe non-pumice GoJo too, I haven't tried it) is that it takes off the dirt without harming the finish beneath it. IMHO it is that aged finish that is the real "patina" that you want to see, not dirt from the barn or that thick layer of nicotine from a past owner who was a heavy smoker, etc.

Clay

I want to try it, just hesitant. I bought a can, but it hasn't even been opened. Do you use 000o0 steel wool and just wipe it off with a clean rag?

Generally I just apply a coat with a paint brush, let it sit for about 10 minutes, and wipe it off with soft paper towels. It will bring the dirt with it. I use it with 0000 steel wool only with tougher cases, and then applying light pressure and rubbing with the grain. Go lightly over decals if you use the steel wool.

After it's clean let it dry for a day or two before applying wax, etc., if you want to do that.

Clay

Got it. Thanks Clay.