Me? I'd ask Steve Young at PBR and follow his advice. What ever you rub on it you will likely only get one shot at it without an option of 'oops let me try that other one.

My existing 1947 Singapore paint was dry and thirsty for what ever I put on it.

PinballFever what ever you choose to do please let us know what product you used and how it went.
Thanks.

Please let me repeat what the others have said.

Work small sections at a time. Work with a clean section of your rag (they collect soil right away) and *constantly check your rag or ME for signs of removed paint. If you see hints of paint then STOP and move to a different section.

I never had any vapor problems with it. I'd put the fan in the window blowing towards the outside. Make sure no lit pilot lights (gas water heater etc) are near.

I would if it were me.

I hate the fact those carbon rings are a consumable item, like tires on your car.
I was thinking to experiment with using a steel ring that would work a triac to operate the scoring circuit instead. I could save the carbon rings in a box in the cab if I wanted to reverse the mod.

I love the colors on that one, looks fun to play. Excellent job!

If you try to pop the inserts out and they are really stuck then I wouldn't risk breaking them. I'd put some acrylic colour around the edge with a fine brush, let it dry and then fill the cavity with Polycrylic.

Me, personally: I'd carefully remove the card staples. I'd pry them up by carefully slipping an exacto knife under a staple end, putting a piece of cardboard or thin metal plate under the exacto knife blade to protect the card.
That way the wood can be properly treated and scans of the cards made.

You can easily make a side rubber. You don't need to slit a rubber lengthwise, just cut in half. Then tack one end, stretch a little bit and tack the other side. Here's a grainy photo of my Singapore ball release. It was a bit difficult because the ends are held with tiny short screws:
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