In the 1970s I worked part time for a hobby shop doing repairs and the shop cleaned the steamers and put a red liquid furniture polish on them. We did not use spray pledge, but applied polish with a small brush. The owner argued that it made them look new and did no harm as the polish gradually faded over time. He said that customers loved it and always remarked at how the engines looked new. Some customers would remark years later about the great job we did rehabbing the engines. Did not do it to diesels. I did some of my post war steamers and they looked too polished at first, but really looked great after the polish diminished some.
Bill
