Questions on preservation and cleaning.

[Jimmy Langford]

I have a extremely rare hutch with a gasket that is in perfect condition that is still perfectly flexible. The bottle has been mostly underwater for 129 years. How should I preserve the rubber? And also, how can I clean the brass spring stopper? It has extreme encrustation/ oxidation.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

I have a extremely rare hutch with a gasket that is in perfect condition that is still perfectly flexible. The bottle has been mostly underwater for 129 years. How should I preserve the rubber? And also, how can I clean the brass spring stopper? It has extreme encrustation/ oxidation.

Radiator cooling fluid has the best rubber conditioners around. Your hoses would burst from the heat if not being conditioned constantly. Rub some on the outside of old tires and it refresh and close dried cracks in the surface. Most likely should be replaced in retrospect. Rubber some on. What color is the rubber? I have seen red, White. Salt and vinegar will clean oxidation off just make sure you clean off the solution because it will cause more oxidation to form.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

Have you ever used liver of sulpher to antique metals? Gives a nice aged look to copper and brass after cleaning. Not oxidized just turns darker browns and blacks depending on the metal.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

I grab any of the new GROLSCH beer bottle and grab the rubber seal. It fits on the old porcelain stoppers. This is one I did.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[UncleBruce]

I grab any of the new GROLSCH beer bottle and grab the rubber seal. It fits on the old porcelain stoppers. This is one I did.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

I went to the grocery store to get some of these gaskets and the police showed up... I guess I should have purchased the beer first, but who wants to drink that awful stuff.

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

I went to the grocery store to get some of these gaskets and the police showed up... I guess I should have purchased the beer first, but who wants to drink that awful stuff.

The new porcelain stoppers are made of plastic...it made my skin crawl. Even the red gasket feels like silicone more than rubber. Very slippery.
ROBBYBOBBY64.