How can fading of hard rubber be prevented or reversed?
Hard rubber items that have been stored in the dark are often found in like-new condition, even after 100 years or more. In the shorter term, avoidance of prolonged direct sunlight is advisable, as is display under unfiltered fluorescent or halogen lights. Note that the damage done by light to the surface of hard rubber may not be visible immediately; in many cases, it will be apparent only upon exposure of the surface to water (water will have no effect on pristine hard rubber, but will immediately fade hard rubber that has been light-burned). While wax will provide some protection against this sort of water-spotting, too thick a coating and one loses the feel of the material – which is, after all, one of the qualities so appreciated about hard rubber. Polishing will restore a faded hard rubber object’s original color. This does entail a loss of material from the surface, however – not usually of concern where the item is smooth, but an issue where there are imprints, chasing, or othe
