[TR] Cleaning Bakelite without turning finish to dull haze - was Control Head

Randall TR3driver at ca.rr.com
Sat Oct 22 18:16:53 MDT 2011


> Please add your two cents to this thread - I'd like to hear 
> what others have
> done or their contrary opinions.

I'll add only that I believe exposure to the elements (and age) will also
change the finish of the Bakelite.  

Whether that counts as "destroyed" or not kind of depends on whether you own
a 50-60 year old car, or a modern reproduction of an old car.  The first
TR3A I ever saw over 35 years ago (and fell in love with) had that soft dark
brown finish on the control head and knobs, so to me it seems "right".

There were also different techniques used for producing Bakelite (strictly
speaking, the term "Bakelite" covers several similar but not identical
substances), and they didn't all create the same finish.  Perhaps someone
older than I can say whether TR components actually had that shiny black
finish (like an old telephone) when they were new.

-- Randall  


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