Patina, like time, cannot be replaced. I am a strict opponent of over-cleaning, especially polishing as it may damage the crispness of engraving/lettering. A mild cleaning to remove grease, oil, and gunk is OK, as I see what may well be smoodge on nickel. Nickel good, smoodge bad, patina good.
I could be mistaken, though, and what looks like smoodge is brass with the remains of nickel over it. In that case, WOW, that's a lot of patina.
You're not sure how to proceed. For now NO do not clean it. Not yet. More advice may be coming. It's a very rare gem and the condition: is unique (vs other brassies / patina). Most of the nickel has flaked-off or was scrubbed off? You are best to describe it @Archie MacIsaac but it does not look "dirty" to my eye and "cleaning" may not be needed? You may want to best preserve the "as found" condition?
It is a lot of patina. In a trunk with other stuff in the garage for over 30 years and how long before that?
Thanks. Just would like to know what would be best. Inquiring about that so I don't do the wrong thing.
I no longer collect stoves, but when I did they were all users. When I found a stove that needed cleaning I'd seldom do more than giving it a light brush with a toothbrush to remove loose stuff, then a wipe with a mild detergent solution and bit of cotton rag to remove that which a mild detergent will remove. In short, the same treatment I'd give a stove that was just returning from a camping trip. I have but one stove that is (or was, to tell the truth) bright and gleaming. That is a NIB 123. Even it is now a bit patina-ed.
