Cleaning tuning dial?

[Geoff 555]

Hello, I would like advice please on the best way to clean, if possible, a tuning dial.
paper stuck on a metal plate, quite firmly.
white ( might have been cream, hard job to tell.)
brown/black printing.
70 years old/
covered in a black dust , coal dust? and general dirt.
Paper is very thin and 'crisp'.
Thank you for any ideas you might have.
All the best.
Geoff.

[Nickthedentist]

THat's a tough one, Geoff.

Personally, I'd just dust it with a soft brush, and leave it at that.

If the results are too poor, then it would probably be best to scan it, then play with it on the computer and print a replica, which should be attached in such a way that the original is left in an undamaged state underneath.

Hope you're well and nice to see you posting again,

Nick.

[paulsherwin]

The first thing to do is to scan it into a computer. Printing out a new scale may be the easiest solution anyway, and will give you something to fall back on if your cleaning efforts go wrong. You can 'clean' the scanned dirty image using a graphics editing program like Gimp.

(crossed with Nick)

[Geoff 555]

Hi thank you, it upon closer investigation it was coal dust. A soft cloth and a little spit dabbed with care. After I had taken a picture of it. It is better.
All the best.
Geoff.

Thank you Nick for your good wishes, can manage an hour or two at a time.

Spit, the oft forgotten cleaner, full of enzymes that dissolve many things. Also a great lubricant when tapping aluminium.

[Herald1360]

Isn't sterile spit used by picture restorers?

Often the only available headlamp cleaner on a mucky winter's night, too.

[Geoff 555]

Hi thanks about the aluminium tapping, that really is useful. Good for dissolving bird droppings as well.
Cheers.
Geoff.