You might want to clean it with magic eraser and 91% rubbing alcohol before you use any Novus to get the ball swirls out.

I'm beginning to shy away from that method. I believe it removes the factory clear coat from the playfield. First, I'd try Novus 1 and a light scrub with a Magic Eraser pad.

As far as wax goes, they're all good. I use Mother's Carnauba Wax with no added cleaners. I've also used Gliptone; a high quality car wax that's been around for decades.

You can’t remove wear with magic eraser. What you see is what it is. Gently clean and then apply wax.

There's little to no clear on there anyway. All they sprayed it with was a lacquer and after near 60 years, not much left.

If you use ME in any fashion you'll remove something

You will remove dirt and ball swirls though.

Agree, but you’re left with a dull playfield without any protection. It’s good advice if your going to clearcoat playfield afterwards. Wax alone will not give you that shiny playfield. It’s forever dull!
Been there, done that. Won’t do it again.

Novus 2 shines it right back up, and waxing it will give you as much protection as was there before

Here's a Hot Tip I did. ME and alcohol, Novus 2, waxed. No clear. Redid the key lines

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Yes. Don't get too aggressive with the ME. You already have noticeable wear on there. Start with a spot like under the plastics and see how it goes. If it starts really removing the paint then back off and just try Novus 2. You won't get the swirls out as well but it will take some of the dirt out.

When it dries you'll have a white haze on the playfield. You can wipe that with naphtha then polish with Novus 2, then wax it.

Obviously the more you remove from on top the better the result. Take off the wireforms, all the bulbs etc. If you're not confident enough to do all that, at least put a plastic straw piece over the switches. Keep from mangling them and they will cut you.

Take it easy, take your time and learn as you go.

Same recipe as EMsinKC here on this neglected Delta Queen. My alcohol is in a spray mist bottle. Give the PF a squirt, use the magic eraser to scrub clean and wipe off excess with a towel. I clean maybe a 3”-4” square of the PF at a time. You don’t puddle the alcohol. You’ll be surprised how little it takes. Take your time, it’s worth it.

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The ME is best used by lightly rubbing the playfield. Try not to press the ME hard into the artwork, you are not trying to remove old rust from metal legs. The ME has a structure that will remove the visible dirt from the ball marks.
There is a long detailed thread for playfield cleaning, it is a valuable read.