Basic metals awareness and care.

I am restoring-- or reviving-- a few Seeburg 100Rs, but this might be helpful to others as well.

Currently I am working on both the Contact Block and Popularity Meter Slide. On both of these (and plenty of other places, too), there are a number of different kinds of metal, some shiny, some dull, some hard, others less so, and some copper colored...etc. In some cases, the manual will indicate what the metal is, but usually it doesn't. Everything needs cleaning-- at the least. I don't mind taking something apart in order to treat it properly; learning the machine is more important to me now than efficiency. Metals & electronics is not something I have deep knowledge of, obviously.

Do you have a suggestion for recognizing and identifying the different metals in these parts? Any tips for cleaning and caring for them would be appreciated, too.

Sorry, I know nothing about metal types--I do know that some materials are likely to be damaged by some "cleaners".
Two I would not use in any machine are: 1. Steel Wool and 2. WD40 ! I use a water based safety solvent--removing anything that even looks like a coil first.
I go through my method of washing a mechanism, in my Seeburg Mechanism Guide( available for purchase by sending me a PM, if you wish). Ron Rich

Restoring "a few" Seeburg 'R' jukes sounds like you have your work cut out for you.

On the contact block, the coil plungers, dressing pins and contacts can be cleaned with alcohol. The black oxidation on the leaf springs can be cleaned with jewelry silver cleaner. Other metal parts including the support bracket, can be cleaned with household cleaner like 409 or Fantastic.

On the popularity assembly, alcohol for the coil plunger, silver cleaner for black oxidation, alcohol for copper rod and copper contacts, household cleaner for black wheel assembly and aluminum support bracket.

Q-tips help in hard to reach areas. Solidified grease can be remover on metal parts with a little Gumout on a Q-tip or rag. Oil on metal parts such as the mech frame can be quickly dissolved and remover with Zep 505 spray followed by a water rinse. Chrome turntable can be polished with Mothers polish.

Follow Ron's advice, don't use steel wool, WD-40, or anything abrasive on contact points. And remove coils, motor, and switches before rinsing.
Hope this helps.

That's super helpful, Steve.

In summary then: alcohol for all other parts that will conduct electricity, and silver polish for removing tarnish from contacts. Household cleaner for everything else, except parts that shouldn't be "washed" at all.

"Leaf springs" are the same as what the manual calls "dressing spring" and "contact spring," correct?

Some follow ups:

The reddish contacts are copper, I assume. What are the more yellowey ones made of?
Is the turntable chrome? It has similar appearance to the outer castings, but doesn't seem to wear the same way.
Ditto the selector indicator channel assembly (where the selection playing is indicated); made of the same material? My guess would be to use polish on it as well.
Is the salt and vinegar treatment for copper safe?

Suggestions for rust removal?