[NJARC] Its ALIVE! Re: Any Freed-Eisemann aficionados out there?

[David Sica]

On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:02:49 +0000 c13jn at comcast.net writes:
> i just purchased a freed eisemann nr-5.it has some cabinet water 
> stains.i would like to clean it up,but im not sure whether it is 
> varnish or shelac,also i dont know whether the face is plastic or 
> bakelite. 

If your front panel is dirty that's one thing. If it's faded as many are,
here's some information that you might find useful:  in November 1994,
the "Tech Talk" presentation to the club by Mark Mittleman was on how to
restore this type of front panel. If I recall correctly, he recommended
painting them as the best way he had found to recreate the nice original
black finish. A tape of his presentation is in the club's video library.

It's very easy to test for shellac. Just place a drop of alcohol on the
finish for a few seconds (maybe on the bottom where it won't be seen). If
it dissolves the finish, it's shellac; if not, it's something else,
probably varnish.

--Dave Sica