Ok here is a toughy

[digger mcdirt]

Clean it but leave the original closure on it ! I would never take a original part off . That closer will clean up nice with a brass brush and you can coat it with oil . Just my thoughts but I would much rather have it original than altered. I dig bottles but also Civil War relics and never change or alter just clean and preserve.

 

[GuntherHess]

problem is, if I was bidding on it , I cant tell if there is neck or lip damage with that rusty thing on there so I would bid less.
If I was keeping it in my collection I might try to preserve the closure.

 

[slplsinbstn]

Ok Gang:
I took the plunge and decided to take the top off and clean the bottle for my upcoming show in Sept.
Here it is - All spiffy.

 

[slplsinbstn]

Second photo Cleaned

 

[slplsinbstn]

last photo Cleaned

 

[peejrey]

ORIGINAL: slplsinbstn

Ok Gang:
I took the plunge and decided to take the top off and clean the bottle for my upcoming show in Sept.
Here it is - All spiffy.

VERY NICE []
_Preston

 

[mtfdfire22]

Much better. Thats a good looking bottle.

Sometimes if you drop them in muratic acid for a while it will clean up all the scale rust and leave a decent looking stopper behind. Try that out on the next one. The acid is super cheap and might be worth it.

 

[TJSJHART]

VERY NICE BOTTLE

 

[splante]

thats a nice Newport RI bottle, did you dig it in RI?

 

[madpaddla]

I have a CT Harvey bottle in the same shape from Norwich. They were relatives I believe.

Plan and simple, cleaner bottles sell better. As Matt pointed out with all the rust and dirt there could be dings / large scratches that detract from the bottle.

That is a real sweetheart of a bottle. Enjoy it till ya sell it.