Aluminum Kennedy Tackle Box -- Part 2 -- started cleaning the exterior (about 15% done?)

Using a spray cleaner & a plastic brush.

The first pass doesn't get all of the dirt off.

There's dirt "spots" that don't come off on the first cleaning.

After the second cleaning, most of the dirt spots came out, but there's still some smaller spots (bottom left corner) that need a third cleaning.

The area up to the center latch needs more cleaning.

Cleaned to left side front surface (up to the top), over to the center latch.

Looks pretty good.

The latches appear to be made of aluminum.  The rivets that hold the latches in place might be brass.

Either way, they're tarnished but not rusty.

The latches have a brass colored finish.

Where the top finish is gone, it looks shiny silver, like aluminum.

Will try not to take off the brass colored finish while cleaning...

Next is the center latch.

After cleaning.

Looks presentable.

Kennedy is stamped into the center latch body.

There's markings on both sides, above the second rivet.

I think this says:

U.S.A.

EXCELSIOR

STAMFORD

CONN

Reading about the history of Excelsior, it started in 1897 and went bankrupt in 1987.

There's some tragic epilogues involving theft from the company  pension fund & other misdeeds by a nefarious character at the end.  Sad.

I'm guessing 491 is the model number or the key number.

The surface below the bronze finish appears silver, like aluminum.

There's a rivet reinforcement piece under the latch tab that's obviously steel (brown rust).

The surface dirt have been romoved.

Will leave it as is.

At first I thought this name tag holder was dirty.

Looking closely, the dark spots are remnants of the original paint (the same brown wrinkle finish paint as the rest of the tackle box).

So, will leave it as is.

The handle loop holder plates cleaned up ok with the same brass colored finish.

There's no red/brown corrosion on these parts so they may also be aluminum.

The D-ring for the handle looks like it's brass.

Before cleaning this side.

The handle itself is dirty.

Not sure what the material is but it might actually be very dry and cracked leather.

After cleaning the handle and the related parts.

Started cleaning the RH side of the front lid.

Some of the dirt spots are quite stubborn and take multiple cleanings to remove.

But, they do eventually come out.

Finished cleaning the top front (the surfaces with the latches and handle).  Will do the top rear surface next time...

The severity of the dents become more obvious after the cleaning.

The rivets at the ends of the top look kinda like they're rusted but it may just be the dark brown wrinkle finish paint.

Tried cleaning this one rivet with some steel wool.

Looks like what's on it is not rust but paint.

Will leave the rivets alone (just clean).

Contrast between the cleaned (left side) and yet to be cleaned (right side).

Portion that's been cleaned so far.

Perhaps about 15% of the surface area?

Will do a little bit at a time.

The right top side next, another day...