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Hubbie and I were antique dealers, with our own store (we closed to move and semi retire).
NEVER clean antique anything. Just use soap and water and clean whatever dirt you van get with either a cloth, or light use a toothbrush- never Brillo or the like. And NEVER use a metal cleaner.
If you clean off the old patina- the item now just lost all its value (and character). We always told ppl- if you want it to look like new............ then buy new.
Thanks for the comments.
Patina is where you want it and tarnish is where you don't.
I did consider leaving the tarnish (or patina) in the deep parts of the casting, but found they have a sandcast texture that is invisible until the black is removed. What I'm working on are the inset plates in the pocket doors and they do look a lot better when shiny bright against the wood.
I have one of the plates soaking in white vinegar (undiluted, right?) and we'll see if that works. I tried some buffing with a cotton wheel on my electric drill but it doesn't reach the recesses. Apparently somebody in the past 130 years has done some vigorous polishing and blurred some of the detail.
You're speaking truly from an antique dealer/collector point of view! Did you ever consider that some people like the "brightwork" in their house- BRIGHT?
Eight hours later, no change caused by soaking in white vinegar, except a green tinge where the piece was sticking out of the bath.
I've never used vinegar to clean, so I don't know if you're still supposed to scrub the piece. But, the "varnish" might be part of the original finish, and might not come off with just cleaning.
This thread 'inspired' me to start to tackle 37 cabinet & drawer handles (for a second time). This house is from the early 1900's, and I'm not sure how old the kitchen cabinets are, but all of the 37 handles are in serious need of cleaning.
These handles are copper plate, not brass. And have (I imagine) decades of, well, use and debris in the crevases.
Today (after reading this thread!) I went and got some Nevr Dull, and then I used a dish-washer machine capsule in (1 cup or so) HOT water for initial soak. Then, I scrubbed (with an old toothbrush) and then rubbed with Nevr Dull. This first one now looks like a new shiny penny!!! :-D
The next two that I'm soaking in the (original) DW solution, aren't coming along so fast, so I'm wondering if the heated water in the initial batch made some difference. But, I'm letting the second couple soak overnight - so we'll see what the marrow brings, and go from there.
But the initial one was dull looking and still had places of debris after the DW solution soak - but the Nevr Dull wiped that right away and made it shiny - with a little elbow grease, but not much - compared to what I recall trying before.
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