The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Was wondering what other members do to inhibit the fine dustlike rust that always seems to creep back after polishing the brightwork on machines. When I say brightwork I am bascially talking about the nickel plating or polished steel.

Living in a salt-air environment here in Sout Jersey it is always a problem for me and I'm sure others.

Sort of disheartning to completely disasemble a machine, clean , polish, oil it up, and then reasemble only to have the corrosion/rust come back within a few months. Granted it is only a fine dustlike rust but it still takes away from all the hard effort put into the reconditioning effort.

Was wondering if any member on the board has found a product which could be applied to keep this problem in check (at least for a year or two)

Thanks in advance
Blizz

Years ago I cleaned up the tarnish and assorted blems on the winding key of my XI, using 0000 steel wool, followed by a coat of Johnson's Paste Wax: the kind in the yellow can, available (still, I hope!) at hardware stores. The schmutz has not returned after all this time. Maybe the same would work for you on the rust problem. HTH.

A good car wax such as Turtle Wax works well too. I apply 2 or more coats, buffing and letting it harden in between coats. Seems to work well.
these waxes also work well on bakelite. I have restored many Lionel train transformers and a ZW that has been well cleaned and waxed is a thing of beauty. Works very well for bakelite cases on RCA 45 players too.

Since you're on the Jersey coast, you almost need to close up the house and either heat/air condition full time. Perhaps you could dedicate a room to your collection and make it at least semi climate controlled.

Jim

Wife says I dedicated the whole house to my collection. People pay money to visit museums and she gets to live in one. I really don't understand woman..

blizz

phonojim wrote:A good car wax such as Turtle Wax works well too. I apply 2 or more coats, buffing and letting it harden in between coats. Seems to work well.
these waxes also work well on bakelite. I have restored many Lionel train transformers and a ZW that has been well cleaned and waxed is a thing of beauty. Works very well for bakelite cases on RCA 45 players too.
Jim

Mmm, that must explain all those shiny ZWs I see at the train shows in Allentown! Maybe that would work on my Telechron 1H1308 clock's case as well.

Henry wrote:

phonojim wrote:A good car wax such as Turtle Wax works well too. I apply 2 or more coats, buffing and letting it harden in between coats. Seems to work well.
these waxes also work well on bakelite. I have restored many Lionel train transformers and a ZW that has been well cleaned and waxed is a thing of beauty. Works very well for bakelite cases on RCA 45 players too.
Jim

Mmm, that must explain all those shiny ZWs I see at the train shows in Allentown! Maybe that would work on my Telechron 1H1308 clock's case as well.

Thanks from a guy with a really dirty ZW

You must be downwind from Limerick!