Dianne,
I agree with your Husband in the spray shellac, I would do it by hand if at all. On Mine I just cleaned the painted surfaces with Sewing machine oil and the Brasso for the metal. The shellac treatment is if you are worried about "flaking" of the remaining decals.
I have removed the cloth plate to clean it, no problems there.
Yes I VERY carefully lay it on it's back to oil the underside
for reference, here is mine:
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