jimmyt has a good point, that most of us seldom think about "the olden ways" and how hard people had to work at things we don't do much any more. A bit of reflection on the "graceful touches" that used to be common, but are for the most part gone now is a worthwhile counter to some of our own daily (mostly trivial) concerns. And by the time the rail is done, jt will have some empathy for those who did the "ungraceful" work that provided the "grace."

I feel compelled to point out that the rail at hand does not provide a true test of the old ways. If it's not been polished recently and frequently, a first polishing is a restoration, rather than a maintenance. The materials and methods used in the past were not as "efficient(?)" as some we can use now. Successful maintenance in the old style should consist in using the relatively mild cleansers and polishes of yore on an almost daily basis. The trick is of course to do it often enough that it's not too much work each time; but that means doing it regularly a lot of times.

Once jt's rail is cleaned, a fairly quick swipe with the Brasso, or with another common cleaner, on a regular basis should keep it in good shape, and some find that a "ritual task" of this sort is uplifting. If done regularly, it certainly will be less onerous than the present restoration. We should ask that he mark his calendar (and trace this thread) to report back in 6 months whether he still finds inspiration in it.(?)

My daddy ran a scrap/salvage/junk yard for many years, and I find nostalgic comfort in maintaining the family tradition (on a non-commercial and rather casual basis) around the house, although when I trip over an unidentifiable piece, I do sometimes think about doing some cleanup. But it's a fam'ly tradition.

John