Why did you paint the receiver?

Hi, I’m a bit confused as to why you would also paint the receiver, which I presume is plastic / bakelite, even though the base is metal.

If so, for future ref, you don’t need to paint them, just polish extremely well, with either simichrome metal polish or novus plastic polishes numbers 2 and three (you don’t need number three if there are no scratches).

This is presuming the black color of the handset wasn’t really faded. If it was, then you’d use the finest possible grit sandpaper to sand, removing the very thin, faded upper layer.

While it looks great to paint the handset, painting parts that are plastic rather than metal would effect the value.

(also, while it’s optimal to rewire an old phone as new, for lazy people out there like me, it also works to simply buy a four-prong to modular converter.
Don’t buy them on ebay, where they’re pricey I’ve seen them for as little as six bucks at http://www.phonecoinc.com/category.asp?map=1&group=misc&category=Acc&horh=home
(I have never ordered from this site so I cannot vouch for their service).
best wishes, Amy