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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Remove Coating on Bronze Flatware

I have many pieces of bronze flatware, some of which have a coating which is spotted and peeling, and I cannot polish the pieces. Some of it is Dirilyte/Dirigold and they use a coating which I have tried many methods to remove. What can I use to remove the coating and what should I use to polish the pieces afterward?

Belinda E [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Rockville, Maryland
2001

I have just purchased some Dirigold (bronze) flatware. It's beautiful stuff! Maas metal polish ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] works good for cleaning. You have to sit there and polish but the results are extraordinary! Happy polishing!

Michael Ann M [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Rockford, Illinois
2002

Years ago we acquired a set of "A.B. Dirigold / Sweden" gold-plated flatware. Now I want to clean the set. What product, or procedure, would you recommend?

Rich B [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Lenexa, Kansas
2002

The Dirilyte company still sells their polish [Dirilyte polish on eBay (affil link)] . They also offer a refinishing service where they remove the BP (bonded protectant) coating and polish the flatware.

Alfred B [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Memphis, Tennessee
2002

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Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors :-)

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Dirilyte: How to remove BP (bonded protectant) Coating

Q. How can I remove the Bonded Protectorant (BP) coating on Dirilyte (nickel-bronze) flatware?

Alfred M. Baggett
- Memphis, Tennessee, USA
2002

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Ed. note: Readers may also be interested in these related threads about Dirilyte:
- letter 7137 on Cleaning and Polishing
- letter 2931 on Restoring Dirilyte that was dishwashered

[editor appended this entry to this thread which already addresses it in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread]
Q. My name is Diane Plummer from Alton, IL, across the river from St.Louis, MO. My Aunt willed me her set of Dirilyte when she passed on in 1964. It is a large set in that I have many of the accent pieces as well as the flatware. It had a BP finish on it when I received it and after 10 years, it was beginning to show scratches as well as the hue was appearing much darker; not shinny gold like when I received it. I packed up the entire set, took it to the Dirilyte Factory in Kokomo, IN, had them strip off the old BP finish, polish the pieces, & apply a new BP coating. The set was beautiful. However, it is now some 35+ years later, and the pieces show wear & have turned a darker hue, once again. I would like to clean & polish it, but cannot with the BP finish. My question is- HOW DO I GET THE BP FINISH OFF? I assume the factory in Warsaw no longer offers this service. Too bad, there was probably a lot of money in it.
Thanks a Million'
Diane

Diane Plummer
Hobbyist - Home Owner - Alton, Illinois
March 28, 2011


[editor appended this entry to this thread which already addresses it in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread]
My Dirilyte BP finish is cracking and failing. How can it be removed so that I can polish it?

Robert Etienne
- Ashland, Oregon USA
December 27, 2014

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Ed. note: Diane and Robert -- We inserted your questions into an older thread which already answered them, but feel free to follow up with further questions if necessary.

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Reprinted with permission of Howard County Museum.
They're still (Mar. 2011) collecting; help if you can.

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I own an extensive collection of Dirilyte Flatware. It is a bronze alloy, (I believe nickel/bronze) and if badly tarnished, can be cleaned with Brasso ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , but wash before using. Maas metal polish ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] also makes a great polish for this, as does DIRILYTE [Dirilyte polish on eBay (affil link)] . Both on line and inexpensive. The BP stamped on reverse pieces are suppose never to be cleaned, but that's not always the case. Dirilyte will not tell you how to remove it, and heavy abrasives will scratch the finish. They will remove it for you, but at a price !

Kenneth F [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Marietta, Georgia
2003

I have recently inherited some Dirilyte Dirigold flatware, and have purchased their polish [Dirilyte polish on eBay (affil link)] . Can I put this flatware in the dishwasher, or should it always be washed by hand? Thanks!

Gail H [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
consumer - Lakeville, Massachusetts
2004

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This is a response to the inquiry about putting Dirilyte/Dirigold in the dishwasher. NO! Always wash and dry by hand. Also, do not store in plastic bags or Saran wrap or foil. Wrap the pieces in untreated flannel (not anti-tarnish flannel or felt used to store sterling and silverplate). I made up some plain flannel wraps which are rectangles with pockets added and each rectangle holds a place setting of pieces and can be rolled up and tied for storage. No scratches or oxidation so far and they are always clean and ready to use. Make sure pieces are completely dry before storing.

I'm still working on removing the damaged coating from my pieces. I will try the boiling water method that has been posted here because nothing else seems to work. I did get a quote of $3.00 per piece to clean and polish and removal of damaged finish if required, but multiplied x many pieces it gets expensive when you add on postage both ways.

While I am here, I have a salt shaker (Dirilyte) that was stored with salt inside and the screw off lid no longer can be turned. I have tried everything I can think of, but I fear a chemical reaction with the bronze, salt and moisture has oxidized and fused the top and bottom together. Any suggestions are welcome!

Belinda E [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Rockville, Maryland
2005

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Ed. note: Liquid Wrench [affil links] is inedible, of course, but it's made for just this kind of problem.

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I have inherited 350 pieces of Dirigold, and had the pieces, not the flatware, finished with BP in the 50's.....To remove the finish so you can polish the pieces, cover the piece with water, and boil it....The finish will dissolve and be removed....polish with a buffer and jeweler's rouge ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ....Also, copper cleaner will do a pretty good job, but will not give the mirror finish that is so beautiful. After polishing with the buffer, spray the piece with brass lacquer ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . If it doesn't work, boil it again and start over. Dirigold is solid all the way through. Just thought I'd put in my 'cent's worth'....

Betsy F [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Danbury, Wisconsin
2004

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Received Dirigold and Dirilyte from an estate sale as a gift--have tried several ways to clean it. Son-in-law is son of a chemist and recommended several treatments to clean--this one works! Line a loaf pan in couple of layers of aluminum--don't have to be neat--put in several inches of white vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , and a handful of salt--put in your Dirigold, and gently move pan to keep liquid in motion--after several minutes, use clean soft cloth and clean and dry each piece--don't let them sit outside of pan--he spots reappear. So lift out each piece separately to dry ... stubborn spots can be cleaned with Simichrome ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , Maas metal polish ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , or Peek ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . . . did my whole box full of 12 place settings in under an hour!

Eve M [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Copper, California
2004

Hello. I tried the boiling water to remove the BP coating-didn't remove it. I have already tried the Liquid Wrench on the salt shaker and it didn't work. I tried vinegar solution, putting it in the freezer and then immersing the top in boiling water (the expand-contract theory), double wrenching, lime-a-way, sewing machine oil, boiling the whole shaker. It is still stuck tight. It is the tall Dirilyte shaker and the construction of the top and bottom pieces doesn't really allow access to the area between the 2 sections. Now it has become a challenge and I will keep experimenting. I did hear from someone at sometime that there is something at the hardware store that will remove the BP from the silverware, but I can't remember what it is.

Belinda E [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Rockville, Maryland
2005

I inherited my mother-in-law's Dirilyte/Dirigold and have it all polished and ready to use. I intended to store it in Crate and Barrel felt wrappings. But I just read on this site that it should not be stored in either felt or in anti-tarnish and I would like to know what harm this would cause.

Gail W [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
sculpture - Nokomis Florida
2005

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2005

My change to the above vinegar post.
Line a pan with a couple of layers of aluminum--don't have to be neat--put in 1 qt. med. to hot water tap water, and 1/2 cup salt--1/2 cup water softener salt ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or trisodium phosphate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , mix well, put in your Dirigold, and gently move pan to keep liquid in motion, rinse well under running water I rinse by hand to make sure all the soap and salt is removed) and dry immediately.

DO a test of one or two pieces before you start, the water must feel slippery, if not add more TSP.

Larry E [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]

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My mother has a set of Dirilyte with a lacquer finish, the polish she was going to use says NOT to use on Dirilyte with a lacquer finish. Any suggestions as to what she can use?
Thank-you for your help,

Jennifer K [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
Consumer - Fountain, Minnesota
2005

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Dear Readers,

I just finished reading, with some amusement, the previously posted comments on this site concerning the polishing of Dirigold flatware. *Warning* Most of you will be in shock after reading the following: There is no mystery to polishing Dirigold! I tried many of the techniques previously described with no luck. So, what I did was take a fork that had considerable damage from pitting and years of neglect that I thought was essentially garbage. WRONG! Remember, Dirigold is a solid bronze and you can polish it all day long and never rub through any plating (with exception of the lacquer finish). Simply take a green kitchen brillo pad ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and in the same direction length wise, rub the flatware until any scratches or tarnish is gone. DO NOT RUB IN CIRCLES OR CROSS WISE! This will, of course, create fine scratches while at the same time removing deeper scratches, pits, and tarnish. Next, take 00 00 steel wool ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , pour Brasso ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or any other copper polish on the steel wool and in the same fashion as described with the brillo pad, rub the flatware until the scratches from the brillo pad are reduced to much finer scratches produced by the 00 steel wool. Next, use #0000 steel wool ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and repeat the process as just described for the 00 steel wool. Finally, using any old rag and more Brasso ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , polish the flatware until the desired finish is achieved. It took hours of trial and error to come up with this method but the results are spectacular! The finish is so highly polished that you can take a large serving spoon outside and see the reflection of the clouds in the sky! This method is incredibly hard on the hands! It takes about 1 hour of constant polishing for each piece and believe me your hands will ache. NOTE! I have only used this method on the Regal pattern marked Dirigold. But I imagine it will work on other Dirigold products. I'm sure there are "experts" who are still shaking their heads. This skepticism is probably fueling the price that professional polishers charge for polishing this flatware. I'm going to be taking before and after pictures for anyone who would like to see them. Good luck with the workout!

John H [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Salt Lake City, Utah
2005

John H of Salt Lake posted that Dirigold is solid bronze. If so, what is Dirilyte made up of and can I polish it in the same fashion as Mr. Hone described for Dirigold?

Christine L [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
no company name - Delray Beach, Florida
2006

I have a set of Dirilyte, prob. purchased late 'thirties, early forties. It is badly tarnished and the special polish does not restore it. Is there a way to fix this? Can pieces be "repolished"? At what cost? Where?

Christine S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
Homeowner - Wichita, Kansas
2006

I have a set of bronze flatware. It has some spots, generally silver in color, and mostly on the knives. Is there a way to restore it to unspotted beauty? Also, one fork broke between the handle and the tines. Is there a way to repair that fork?

Karen S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
consumer - Fort Wayne, Indiana
2006

In response to all these "do it yourself" techniques for Dirilyte/Dirigold (same company, same product). I have not tried any of the liquid suggestions but I do know that using a buffing wheel and white chrome rouge (a very, very fine jewelers rouge) will put an unbelievable shine on your Dirilyte/Dirigold items - and it will remove the Bonded Protectorant (BP finish). In response to the person who wants to know why you shouldn't use plastic/pacific cloth (the felt used for silver and gold), etc., it is because the bronze alloy in the Dirilyte/Dirigold reacts chemically with them and they tarnish a lot faster. I have used Maas polish on my holloware items and they have stayed beautiful for a long time, even while "out" to be seen every day. It also works beautifully on the flatware and you don't have to wash it before you eat with it if it's polished properly (so there is no residue left to be seen).

Patricia T [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- High Point, North Carolina
2006

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I carefully washed my inherited Dirilyte flatware and stored it in anti-tarnish cloth - DON'T DO IT...I pulled it out to use maybe 6 months later and it was all RUINED or at least it looked ruined. I sent it all in to be replated...Very Expensive.

Pam S [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Austin, Texas
2006

I did not know what metal "Dirigold" was, so I tried a product called Mr. Metal [affil links] (which works for a variety of metals.) Mr Metal claims that you don't have to rub or buff - wrong! It took some "elbow grease" but the brilliant shine was worth it! The pieces are beautiful! Just for the record, I was polishing holloware, not flatware.

Elisabeth H [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Williamsport, Pennsylvania
2006

The man who suggests Brasso ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and #0000 steel wool ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and a soft cloth for the cleaning and shining of Dirigold is using common sense; most likely gained while in the military in the pre-volunteer era where Brasso ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] was a component of how one spent free time. It does require a lot of rubbing and enlisting the services of a "young fool" as suggested by another contributor is a good idea. Better yet is having a youngster, either son or daughter, perform the task. You can think about things when polishing flatware [just like when ironing] and there is practically nothing we do where such a satisfactory and reasonably short outcome is within our control.

Ken L [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
heir - Newport Beach California
2006

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Eve M stated to try white vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and salt with tin foil in the bottom of a loaf pan. It did not produce the shine I desired, so I polished each piece with Brasso. It turned out beautiful and shiny. It took about an hour to polish 6 place settings while watching a movie.

Alice

Alice Ray-Overstreet
- Lakeland, Florida
2007

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I purchased my first place setting in the mid 1960's, it originally was very expensive. I regret buying it with the Bonded Protective coating as those pieces have that lacquer coating that cannot be polished over, but needs to be removed before you can bring back that original beautiful gold color and luster. Over the years I've found many pieces at swap meets, etc. and I've tried every trick in the book to clean and polish. I have come to the conclusion that a small investment in a Dremel ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or similar roto-tool is the best and easiest way to clean and polish. I use a little Wenol [adv: Wenol on eBay or Amazon [affil links] metal polish (Simichrome ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] is similar) on a felt buffing wheel and years of tarnish comes right off. It takes time, but no hard rubbing; the tool does it all.

Carole A. Walton
- Lake Elsinore, California
April 12, 2008

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To all the Dirilyte owners. Information on the Dirigold/Dirilyte Company can be found on many websites.
My great-grandfather and grandfather worked with Carl Molin at the Dirigold/Dirilyte Company in Kokomo, IN. My father
was the general manager until the 1980's. Treat the Dirilyte carefully and it will last forever. If I tried to
remove the bp the way others have mentioned my dad would roll over in his grave.

Dirilyte was used in the White House until Nixon was president. It sold in the finest jewelry stores, etc. The flatware always had the dirigold/Dirilyte stamp. Holloware (trivets, compotes, etc) were sold to other companies and were identified by the letter "G". Today it can be found in lots of antique shops, etc.Most people are not aware of Dirilyte and the fact that at one time it sold for more than silver.

Mary Boodt
- Indianapolis, Indiana
April 14, 2008

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Question for Mary B -

I have some pieces with the BP and they are tarnished. Do you know how to clean those?

Linda Bonnel
- Novato, California
July 27, 2008

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TO: Karen K - Minneapolis, MN
IN ANSWER TO WHERE TO GET THE DIRILYTE POLISH [Dirilyte polish on eBay (affil link)] , YOU CAN EMAIL DEB HARRINGTON AT: djh@handindustries.com . THAT'S THE COMPANY IN WARSAW, IN THAT HAS TAKEN OVER THE SALE OF DIRILYTE POLISH [Dirilyte polish on eBay (affil link)] . I JUST ORDERED THE POLISH LAST WEEK, HAVEN'T YET REC'D IT, BUT EXPECT TO SOMETIME THIS WEEK. DEB WAS VERY HELPFUL, GIVING VARIOUS METHODS OF PMT.

JANIE EILERS
- MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota
September 2, 2008

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I am recipent of my aunt's Dirigold small goblets she rec'd as wedding present (probably 1920s). I keep them in an armoire (fitted as a bar). Use them for after dinner drinks i.e. Baileys, B&B, etc. Every once in a while I just use Wright's Copper Cream ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . So easy.

Wynne Gensey
- Twin Falls, Idaho
October 22, 2008

I purchased my service for 12 set of Dorling tableware in 1956. At the time I lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It does need polishing about twice a year if used regularly for company. Never put it in the dishwasher! I was a new bride, my husband was in the US Army in Korea. The $195.00 that I paid was for table ware, 4 holloware pieces and serving pieces. It is still lovely and worth the work of polishing.

Darlene Hyndman
- Stuart, Florida
November 25, 2008

Has anyone tried using an electric wheel buffer? I'm going to try it, seems it would be easier on the hands and quicker too, than brillo pad torture.

Catherine Werner
- North East, Maryland
December 21, 2008

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I purchased 2 sets of bronze ware in Thailand in approx. 1965. It has been stored in a
shed in Miami Florida for about 30 years. Needless to say it has turned green etc.
The pieces have wooded handles which look ok.
What can we use to clean and restore this flatware to service?

Tom Pritchard
hobbyist - Cape Coral,, Florida
February 24, 2009

My parents handed down their collection of Dirilyte to me and thought they were doing me a favor by wrapping each piece in plastic wrap! Now the wrap is melted on. Some will peel off, but some is stuck. Any suggestions to getting it off without damaging the finish?

Sue woodman
- south berwick, Maine
March 29, 2009

Because Dirilyte is solid brass, you can use a sharp knife to carefully get under the plastic wrap and peel or even scrape lightly to remove the plastic. Putting the pieces in the freezer first for an hour or two may help the process too. (Any scrapes will polish out by a professional polishing firm.)

R. C. Fischbach
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
May 14, 2009

I also had dirilyte that had coating. I used paste type paint remover gel ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . I tried it on one piece first, it dissolved the coating in a couple minutes. I had rubber gloves on wiped it off and washed it. A quick polish with Brasso or the Dirilyte polish [Dirilyte polish on eBay (affil link)] makes it almost like new.

Marti Hause
- Vista California
December 24, 2009

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Someone used the term nickel bronze. I do hope this was an assumption and not a fact. Some here are allergic to nickel. Does this flatware contain nickel? Normally bronze contains copper, tin and zinc.

Also mentioned was Thai nickel bronze. Does this contain nickel?

I clean the lacquer of copper pots with a solution of ammonia ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , salt and a squeezed lemon. Soak it for an hour or so and it comes right off. The I clean them with Wright's Copper Cream ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . It is pretty easy. All of this turmoil is needless.

Tom Green
- Apopka, Florida
February 20, 2010

I made the tragic mistake of putting my Dirilyte I inherited in the dishwasher. It has spots on that I have tried to buff out, but it still has black on it. What's my next step?

Marcia Salerno
- Westmont, Illinois
May 13, 2010

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When I inherited my Grandmothers Dirilyte back in the 1960's a chemist told me it was listed in his "book" as an anodized aluminum with a bit of bronze in it. Has anyone else out there heard this?

Gail Renneker
- Cleves, Ohio, USA
May 28, 2010

For the salt shaker that the top would not come off: I sprayed WD-40 ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] into the crack between body and lid and let this sit for a while. I even poured some into the salt holes into the shaker to swirl around at where the top meets the body. When I came back about 15 minutes later, I picked it up and tried again to unscrew it - the shaker slipped out of my hands and fell onto a tile floor. Good news: it wasn't dented and the lid came off easily. Its worth a try because if you can't unscrew it to fill it, what good is it. I would imagine the liquid wrench would work also but the hard hitting the floor or some other way to tap the shaker at the corroded area should help.

Diana Young
- Sun City Center, Florida, USA
September 2, 2010

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Q. I just bought a 12 place setting, 20 pieces per setting of Dirigold Regal, about 255 pieces. It is probably from the 1930's. I've tried polishing with the Dirilyte polish. It just does not shine up very well. Also, after 10 pieces my hand is killing me. Does anyone know if I could purchase some kind of power buffer and some jewelers rouge ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] to really polish it up? If so, what kind of buffer and what kind of rouge? Thank you for time.

Linda Noble
- Midvale, Utah, United States
December 30, 2013

How to Remove Monogram on my Dirilyte Q. I bought a set of Dirilyte flatware at an estate sale, and it has a monogram which I would like to have removed (polished out) or I would like to have an "R" made into an "H", which I think could be done with the addition of one vertical line. I understand that Dirilyte is very hard. Would a jeweler be able to do this successfully, or would I have to go to the manufacturer, or someplace else? Janet Hernly hobbyist - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA 2004 A. Hi Janet, If you feel the addition of a line is good enough, yes, a jeweler could probably engrave a line for you. But removing an engraving is a much different problem, you'd have to buff away a lot of metal to get the monogram to not be deeper than the surrounding metal. Luck & Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey How to remove engraving from Dirilyte tray? Q. Is there any way to remove engraving from a Dirilyte tray? gail jacobs - wolfeboro New Hampshire June 2, 2014 A. Hi Gail. Short of polishing down all the metal in the surrounding area to the same depth, I don't know of any way. But good luck. Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

I have a large AB DIRIGOLD place setting that was recently passed on to me, and I am in the process of cleaning the individual pieces. This set could have been brought from Sweden in the 1920s, which makes it quite old? There is a good chance that the set was never used considering the condition of the individual pieces.

Engraved on one spoon is "Good Templar Park Swedish Day". The set may have been picked up in America. There is a salt and pepper shaker with the set. The salt shaker will not open which is something I will be working on. My hands are getting quite a workout and I am using a lot of Brasso.

Dennis Helm
- MACHESNEY PARK
February 15, 2016