razor case restoration question

[ChristopherH10]

I picked up a NEW Bostonian on Ebay recently and am working on shining it up ... pretty sure it's a brass finish ... I know it is possible to have these replated as well. Haven't yet decided about that. This one has some brassing I think.

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/cahubble05/NEW%20Bostonian%201/

The outside of the case seems to be in condition, but the inside is very dirty/aged/etc.

Are there specialized ways to treat/clean/restore the fabric on the inside of these cases without destroying it? I assume that when you're dealing with items this old you have to be careful how you clean them ...

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t28/cahubble05/NEW%20Bostonian%201/

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or feedback that folks might offer.

P.S. I live in the Denver area if anyone knows of any local razor experts.

 

[spindlecone]

I would not mess with it, has patina.

 

[ChristopherH10]

Don't mess with it meaning don't try to polish, don't replate, leave the felt alone?

 

[spindlecone]

Leave the velvitine alone

 

[ChristopherH10]

Thank you very much!

 

[luvmysuper]

The gold logo on the back comes off easily.

You can use the canned air that is used to blow off keyboards to blow out loose dirt, and a small piece of masking tape backwards to pick up lint and stuff that is stuck to the cloth (except in the logo area).
Other than that, unless you're an experienced restorer, I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[ChristopherH10]

Thank you Phil. Hopefully that will help. I know I can't ever make it look like new, but if I could make the inside of the case look at least as good as the razor, then this might make a nice Christmas gift for someone.

 

[armenakadino]

The gold logo on the back comes off easily.

You can use the canned air that is used to blow off keyboards to blow out loose dirt, and a small piece of masking tape backwards to pick up lint and stuff that is stuck to the cloth (except in the logo area).
Other than that, unless you're an experienced restorer, I wouldn't mess with it.

thats exactly what i did I just blew the can air in there and got rid of all the junk that was on the cloth, when it was done it looked new

 

[RocketMan]

The gold logo on the back comes off easily.

You can use the canned air that is used to blow off keyboards to blow out loose dirt, and a small piece of masking tape backwards to pick up lint and stuff that is stuck to the cloth (except in the logo area).
Other than that, unless you're an experienced restorer, I wouldn't mess with it.

Tape works very well to clean up the lining - the tiny hairs and dust and lint. The masking tape is a good choice. I have used scotch tape before and it took a little more than I wanted - some of the material itself. Now, I use the removable painting style masking tape because the glue is sticky enough to get the dirt, but gentle enough not to damage the case material.

The 'patina' you see really cannot be cleaned as it is color fading mostly - that is why there is such a difference between where the razor covered - and protected - the material all these years. That razor likely was displayed somewhere for quite some time, and exposed to the light for a long time. You cannot correct that. But, cleaning with tape (or air) will help a lot.

 

[ChristopherH10]

Thanks again all ... very, very helpful ...