Thanks for the info..think I will go with oily rag..
..thought I'd stick a picture up..everyone likes a photo..hope it's uploaded.
Managed to get all the parts bar the Brooks saddle (last owner bought it for the saddle..canny man)...50's drop bars, John Bull grips, brakes and levers, head stem with the securing mech on the head set..it's all polished up nicely. As to be expected for UK weather, the rims are kind of beyond it. Shame as they're Dunlop 26 x 1 1/4..and had an unusual fixedsprocket/3 speed freewheel flipflop combo going...might 'put them in the cellar for a rebuild' or pass them on to someone who will actually rebuild.