The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

What is the best way to clean a Victrola arm that looks like this? I assume it is just surface oxidation.

Acetone may help, depending on how severe the wear is. Acetone is a universal solvent, so keep it away from your machine's paint and varnish. Use only a small amount, a drop or two applied to a clean rag or 0000 grade steel wool. Vigorously rub a small amount of your tone arm at a time, maybe one inch, then buff out with a clean cloth. I'd try an inconspicuous portion first. If you're lucky, this may improve the appearance of your nickel plate, although some of the brass may shine through underneath. If you're not lucky, you might take the plating all the way down to the brass. Oh, and acetone is carcenogenic, so use in a well-ventilated area and/or wear a mask.

I was going to let others answer this question, but I must admit the acetone and steel wool jolted me into motion.

Here's an illustrated opinion:

https://forum.antiquephono.org/topic/16 ... mment-7027

Ammonia does a nice job on gold plated Victrola tone arms, and it might work well on nickel too. I haven't tried it. I'm a fan of Nevr-Dull cotton wadding on heavily oxidized surfaces, so if polish doesn't seem to be working, try the Nevr-Dull. I would save the 0000 steel wool as a last resort.

George P.

I've done dozens of these with the 0000 steel wool with no visible scratching to the plating, although I suppose it might depend on how much pressure you apply. I would certainly never go with any grade coarser than 0000. If you're extra cautious, try it with a rag.
Re the thread on APS Forum, the active ingredients in Bar Keepers Friend used to be pumice and oxalic acid. Pumice will scratch any fine metal surface you are trying to polish. If you have a lot of patience, try rottenstone and water, or rottenstone and lacquer thinner. It's far less expensive than any commercial polish.

I used to use 0000 steel wool on tone arms myself, until I tried using only polish. Although the scratches left behind by the steel wool are quite subtle, the side-by-side effect vs. polish is much like aluminum to chrome.

I use Barkeeps friend on our antique kitchen sink.

George P.

I would use Solvol Autosol. It is a cream in a tube which will remove the oxides and not harm anything. Excellent results. Just rub on vigorously with a rag and polish off.
https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/automotive/ ... hEQAvD_BwE

0000 steel wool saturated with WD-40...

Curt A wrote: Sat May 10, 2025 12:57 pm 0000 steel wool saturated with WD-40...

What did you decide to do and how does it look now?

I was meaning to ask about cleaning the metal bits on a player, and this thread reminded me. What are thoughts on using NOXON, with either 0000 wool or an old T shirt?