'54 Hornet Dashboard - color of letters and numbers

Ricko

I have taken my dash completely apart for rewiring and painting. While I have the speedometer/gauge panel out, I would like to make it like it should be. It is plastic and the letters and numbers are yellowed but the back of them on rear side of the panel is bright white. Are they supposed to be bright white? If so, should I clean them with something or should they be painted?

Glowplug

The plastic numbers were originally bright white. The only method I know used to restore them is using sand paper.  Very tedious and usually with limited success as the discoloration is an artifact of the plastics exposure to sunlight. 

Ricko

Thanks

super-six

I believe I used 400 grit sandpaper and I glued it to a short piece of a large Popsicle stick (or similar). That creates a miniature sanding block and works well.

RichardD

Fingernail tool shops sell the different colored boards, about 6" long for polishing nails. Believe the dark blue one is the coarsest grit.