Your Gramps never cleaned them it looks like.....most old timers didn't.......

Do you really want to erase all his karma/love/soul he put into the cymbals?

I wouldn't ....

Go buy some new cymbals if you want all shiny...........

Actually my dad cleaned them maybe 5 years ago maybe. He used something you shouldn't use on them to clean them. Thats 5 years of me and my dad playing haha.

I highly recommend to use a [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Weiman-Products-Copper-Cleaner-Polish/dp/B003A760AE/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1319641574&sr=1-3-catcorr"]Wright's Copper Cream[/ame]. Just clean unnecessary dust, spot, and mold. After cleaning, still nice compared with a Groove Juice. It is a nice patina way. I believe it doesn't hurt the cymbal value.

Thank you much, so does anyone know anything about the cymbals at all?

I'm generally in favour of cleaning cymbals but as stated----if someone wants the patina, then leave it on for them. I sell a few cymbals so I'll do whatever anyone wants.

You have to look at cleaning from a technical standpoint because sometimes cleaning can improve the cymbal and sometimes deprove it.

The stuff on your cymbal is a lot more than just patina. I guess patina is tarnish but what about the skin oil,dust,dust mites,airborne synthetic chemicals,tobacco smoke,cooking grease,snot,mouse urine,dried sweat,congealed blood,wood pulp,plastic dust,dried beer,mold,flea feces,algae,yeast,dried tears,dandruff,car exhaust,vintage clamatto juice,spit and polish?

oh yes and there could be handiwipe residue and other stuff it was intended to remove.

I have generally found that cymbals sound better after they have been cleaned. They are more open ,there is more separation between the stick and overtones,the wash is more direct and resonates less and they look and feel nicer. Now, I am not a clean freak-----if you ever had to wade through the morass in my farmhouse, you'd know what I am talking about. We use logging boots for bedroom slippers.

That said, if the cymbal is a bit dainty and has some trouble not sounding like it is a tool in a cooking class, then a bit of slop attached to it in a nice thin layer might be just the ticket. vinaigrette, perhaps?; pesto? worcestershire sauce? maybe just drool?

I don't believe it helps it either though on a 50 YO cymbal!

Lot harder to put it back on then take off....

I'm OK but it hurts someone. That's all.

if your going to clean and polish your vintage cymbals i recomend having them done by a pro . if it's not done right you might end up with a cymbal that look's far worst than what you think is bad in the first place . here is some pic's of my work , with vintage zildjian a' and k's in my shop . and your cymbals are form the early 60's

I think its just late 50's early 60's stamp but there from the 50's the late 50's that is.