Bruce-I would use a wire brush in a dremel to clean up those sockets including the staples. If you do that delicately it should not change the patina of the wood. Only replace the sockets which have deteriorated to the point of not working although as you suggest per Clay you can direct solder to the pin if needed although I would prefer to replace. I also dremel brush the interior of the socket from the front. You would be able to obtain preowned sockets from pinjunk if you wanted patina integrity-Wayne.

Doing what wayner suggests will work well (although polishing staples is something I never considered doing).
I finish off the cleaning job on old light sockets by using DeOxit spray or brush on liquid. That will improve the longevity of the cleaning and the electrical connection.

Alan

There is a new product from China I posted a while back.
Its a fibrous cylinder impregnated with rust removal agent that
works amazing when activated with water.
I use it for rust touchup removal all the time.

It might help. Under $1.00 shipped.
search rust removal stick on Ebay.

(Not unwrap the binding outside yet to do the staples, I had very good results, except
where rust was all that was left.)

I use it on side rail rivets as well.

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Is your rust removal stick the stainless steel version?

The product is advertised for Stainless Steel...as its the largest demographic to sell for pots and pans.
Ive removed surface rust and light surface oxidation on stainless.

Think of it as a rust remover, water activated on a brush.

Its not going to worth to do all ones legs, but Ive touched up legs where needed, rivets, sockets, small rusted parts
like screw heads, and bolts where I really didnt want to take everything apart, and an 80% improvement in minutes was good enough.

For $1 delivered its worth a try, and just handy to have around.

Brass, the steel may be to much.

I usually pry of the staples and clean the lite holders away from the backboard. Simple job to staple back down. While off I sand the backboard wood to clean up the surface. Sometimes I stop there and would on your game.

Bruce-These are the brushes I use in my dremel to burnish metal parts. I obtain in lots of 25ea on ebay from China. Always wear safety glasses when using these brushes-Wayne

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