Sorry, no. Deardorffs in that condition are usually thrown away. Some resourceful owners sneak them into a Goodwill shop, sliding them under a table of freebies.
Seriously, if you put the metal parts to a buffing wheel it is likely you will reveal the copper underplate - or nothing but an nondescript metal lustre. IMHO, either is more desirable than the present state. What you do will not likely effect the good function of the camera.
Didn't someone buy-out the Deardorff parts and start making new ones a few years ago?
Are they still in business?
Drew Bedo
www.quietlightphoto.com
http://www.artsyhome.com/author/drew-bedo
There are only three types of mounting flanges; too big, too small and wrong thread!
Not a lot to improve it much without removing all parts and re-plating them...
You can remove what you can, and polish them the best you can with a good metal polish by hand, and at least the surfaces will be protected and smooth to the touch...
But now as I evolve, if I find something with the look of years on it, I try to let it keep it's "character" that it earned, and take only the steps to preserve it and keep it full functional... (But will clean-up abuse!!!)
I was restoring an old brass projection Petzval, that when cleaning it up, I found that there were layer after layer of old fingerprints from it's use, (probably 1880's) and I suddenly stopped cleaning the barrel, as these were part of it's history and "soul"...
Careful not to over-restore stuff...
Steve K
I use alcohol on a q-tip to clean the metal on my Deardorff.
Clean it, but preserve the patina.
+1 for removing the hardware and CAREFULLY cleaning and polishing it by hand. The nickel plating is thin.
Also, the wood is finished in Lacquer, and finish remediation should be done using the same.
I suggest you contact Ken Hough:http://deardorffcameras.0catch.com/
Ken is the expert at restoring 'dorffs
Try 0000 steel wool on the metal parts. No chemicals, just gentle treatment with the steel wool.
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