The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a dusty dull VV 2-60 portable, with really dulled vinyl (or whatever the covering is). Has anyone used any cleaners that brought back some reasonable results? A good wipe with a damp rag brought up a lot of dirt, but when it dries, its clean, but looks really drab.

I just went through that this week with a Brunswick portable. On that one at least the covering is something like a version of old fashioned oil cloth, fabric with a thin coating of some sort to produce an imitation leather appearance. I expect that is fairly typical.

What I did was clean it well with saddle soap and, after thoroughly dry, follow that up with a good quality paste neutral (i.e., clear) shoe polish and a buffing. Of course it will never look show room new again, but this improved its appearance considerably and gives some protection without drying out the covering or making it look overly glossy. It looks period, but as having been better cared for than was the case.

Often the nickel plated hinges and lid locks are in poor nick on portables. On the Brunswick they were rusted and discolored. After trying a bit of mild auto polishing compound and finding that there was almost no plating left, I had at them with the wire brush attachment on a Dremel to remove the rust, followed with a light coat of auto wax to afford a bit of protection. The result still looks old, but also as having been better cared for over the years than it actually was.

Clay

Thanks Clay..I had heard it suggested about the neutral polish, and now that you second that, its a go.

I have de-rusted exterior case fittings by immersing them overnight in spirit vinegar, any residue of which can be neutralised by immersion in turpentine substitute, otherwise known as white spirit.

epigramophone wrote:I have de-rusted exterior case fittings by immersing them overnight in spirit vinegar, any residue of which can be neutralised by immersion in turpentine substitute, otherwise known as white spirit.

This sounds very promising. Apologies for my ignorance, but what is "spirit vinegar", please? Not the stuff you put on your egg and chips, I take it?

Spirit Vinegar is colourless and it's main culinary use, according to my wife, is for pickling.

Malt Vinegar is the brown stuff you sprinkle on your chips. It might also work as a de-ruster but could leave a residue.

Right! Off to buy a bottle straight away, thanks.