Nice job of preserving, without losing all of the original flavor. This is a very instructive post, not just in methods, but in attitude.

You've got me thinking hard about a Raleigh frame that came out of storage much worse than it was when I put it up. I'll try to get a bottom bracket into it, and if that goes well, the finish will get a bit of loving attention to see if it can be revived in a fashion appropriate to the bicycle.

Is Scotchbrite 7447 the mildest in terms of abrasiveness?