I have an original 135cm long x 35cm high factory made/assembled lego cruise ship that was first used as shop window display item in a Chester department store from the early 1970's and possibly earlier. See attached photo images.
I am trying to discover more about the boat eg how old it could be, where it was possibly made/assembled, are there many left, what value it may have and how best I can clean it safely as it is glued together.
If you are able to help me with any information or advice it would be fantastic.
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Comments
With vintage Lego, Fabuland, etc I gently clean pieces with warm soapy water. Sometimes a soft scrub brush is needed to get in between the studs. I pat them dry and then let them air dry for a few hours.
With a model that size you will have to decide if you are taking it apart or cleaning it as a whole. If you use the bath tub, plug the drain hole well (voice of experience from someone who has lost a fair few pieces down the drain...)
Now the pieces that are yellowed/aged looking would need a stronger intervention. I have used the various H2O2 (peroxide) plus sunlight methods and actually had some pretty good success. It seems to help even the blue pieces that are yellowed to come back to life a bit. I would always test the process out on a couple of pieces first, and remember that the length of time in the direct sun determines the amount of chemical action happening on the surface of the brick. I have even done printed parts with no ill effects, but would caution you to go slow with those just in case.
Good luck and share your results when you are done!
BTW, just so you know, the peroxide and sun method didn’t do much to de-age my hands but didn’t cause any damage to me either... :-)
https://forum.brickset.com/discussion/comment/593642#Comment_593642
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HGagdufGvGM
My good Scottish friend Chris Bull collects and restores historic glued display models. Here's "part" of his collection.... A new chapter of my Unofficial LEGO Sets/Parts Collectors Guide is devoted to this glued genre of LEGO collectibles, and owners of the free upgrade to my guide will be seeing many of these treasures! ;-)
I'll contact him and see if he can post here and give some cleaning tips... ;-)