drumbum 3131/Zerek/Ludwig-dude!...
drumbum 3131: I apologize for not getting back to you, except I don't recall ever receiving an email from you regarding this question. Unless... ??? When did you send/request that information? Regardless... I assure you that it's not "my little secret", and although I am indeed headed to the grave... ( but hopefully not yet! ) ... I have no desire to take that with me! LOL!! I am trying to mount a luggage rack on my coffin though... LOL!!! Sooo...
Zerek/Ludwig-dude, and drumbum 3131: I have lightened/restored WMP with GREAT success, and it was one drum in particular where it all came together: a 1949 WFL/Ludwig 3x13 Buddy Rich Be-bop model snare drum. It was HARD WORK!... very time consuming... and risky... but at the time I THOUGHT it was what I wanted to do with all my WMP drums, which I do indeed have quite a few of, all Buddy Rich models too, but already I digress. I have since decided that for the most part, they are almost always nicer left in their original aged/faded state, and as Vipercussionist states: A badge of honor!! Anyway...
The procedure is risky as it utilizes a chemical solvent that actually dissolves the Pyrolin, which is what old WMP was made of... it wasn't a plastic... it was actually a cellulose based film. Cellulose acetate is what it's basis is. Anyway... this solvent literally REMOVES the outer layer of yellowed pearl leaving behind "fresh" WMP. Again though, it is very slow going, and extremely risky as the solvet will in fact soften the wrap as it works. There is also the risk of removing the glue if the solvent is allowed to come in prolonged contact with it. Then... the finish has to be restored to the "stripped" pearl as you have literally removed all of it. Soooo....
This is why I shy away from telling the "secret"... it occured to me that guys could literally RUIN their drums... and that would be awful. Also, I had noticed that not ALL WMP wrap responded well to this! ( interesting in itself as I always thought that the same company made all of it ) Old WFL/Ludwig wrap responded the best in my experience. Truthfully though, I'm not trying to hide the "secret"... it's more of an I don't want anyone to RUIN their beautiful and valuable vintage drums. Hopefully this will explain my reluctance to divulge the "secret" !
Tommyp