The brass parts can be cleaned the back plate as well but the front plate has rotten on the spot where the handles where placed with the iron pins in the wood, when iron starts to rust it expands and wood will crack when that happens. i have two options, a oak replacement front plate or Tufnol plate. i choose for Tufnol be course the mahogany that is on the reel now does not match with oak i think. black tufnol is very strong and give a reel a classic look that i love. it will be take some time before this reel is finished but try to post a few pictures now and then







