[pianotech] Cleaning Very Old Plate

[Terry Farrell]

I'm restringing an 1867 S&S Square grand. I'm pulling the plate and with to clean it as well as possible. However, at this time I have no plans to refinish the plate - it is to stay original. The original finish is in some sort of condition approaching good (considering its age - shall we say "well developed patina"). I would like to refinish it, but it has quite a bit of two-tone areas and a lot of pinstriping - something that I'd never be able to reproduce - though, I suppose for anyone with some art talent, it would be a piece of cake.

So maybe two things. If left original, how best to remove as much old gook as possible WITHOUT degrading the finish any more than it is. And second, where to I start looking for an artist who could reproduce the original paint scheme?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Terry Farrell