Cleaning Lionel Prewar Tinplate

[northernpike]

Need some advice

Picked up some prewar tin cars.  Cleaned with liquid dish detergent and warm water.  They still look dull.  What is the best way to polish and shine these old cars Without damaging them?  One is a shell tanker with good decals.  

thanks

Northern

[Firelock76]

If they still look dull it's probably due to deterioration of the paint surface, remember the paints they had in those days weren't anywhere near as good as we have now.

To put a bit of a gloss on them try using a paste wax.  That'll give them a bit of a shine and won't attack the paint that's still on there.

Don't use a polish, polishes have mild abrasives in them and that's the last thing you want on that old paint and decals.

[northernpike]

Good idea.  I will give it a try.

thanks

Tom

[Firelock76]

You're welcome!  One added benefit of the paste wax is it'll protect the paint that's still on there from further deterioration.