I should think if it's tin, the rust has already eaten through the paint and is down into the base metal. Trying to clean it off will take off the paint along with the rust. I might get it evaluated to see if it's worth having it restored by a professional.

If not, I'd enjoy it in its current antique-y state. A lot of people like authentic painted tin; many times the condition doesn't seem to be an issue.

I had a 1950's globe that I gave to my grandsons. It was covered with paper or cardboard of some sort, which I wasn't happy about at the time, but I'm really glad now that it wasn't metal -- no rust and the paper cleaned up fairly well. I really like your outlines in gold -- neat! Do the countries show up?

I have found a bunch of references to using a solution of molasses and water to remove rust from metal. Apparently folks who restore old cars have been using this method. It sounds like a good, non-toxic thing to try!

Here is a link that might be useful: using molasses to remove rust

tasymo - I might try the molasses and water solution and I love that it's non-toxic - thanks!

norar - There are no names that I can find (maybe under the rust), possibly they were left off for the students to name?

duluthinbloomz4 - I have had some luck in using a little glass cleaner on a few small areas - I've found blue water (you can see some of it in the Great Lakes), so I don't think it has rusted to the base level everywhere yet. I happen to like the 'patina' too, just would like to see a little more of the world!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

If you use the molasses method and it works, please let us know (and post another pic!) I'm really curious about how well it works.

tasymo - Not sure when I'll get to it, but I'll definitely post again with a pic.

If it has rusted, it is not tin, but probably of iron based metal. It may have been sheet metal and thinly electroplated or immersion plated. The easiest way to restore it would be if you could find a replacement globe, but I bet that it is almost impossible to find an exact duplicate.

I've used Ospho to kill rust on painted metals around the ranch without affecting the paint. But, without knowing what kind of paint was used, I would read all the warnings and instructions before using it on an object meant to be kept inside. And, yes, please let us know how the molasses/water concoction works.

pris - I'll try the molasses and water solution first, then perhaps Ospho - thanks!

I have a little trouble believing that globe was used in a school. There are no boundaries for any countries, equator or any of the divisions of The Americas.
I think it's an old globe which has been artfully repainted, without care to stop the rust beneath the new paint.
It's very pretty but not of much use as a teaching tool.

An update - I did my own version of the molasses and water (m&w) method. I soaked a rag in m&w and lightly rubbed the rust off. I have gotten down to bright blue in one small area, but I am seeing the full extent of the damage now. There are many areas that have scratches or small portions that, once the rust was removed, is now silver metal. Wondering if I also rubbed the paint off?

The other thing I tried was soaking the rags and leaving them on two sections of the globe for about 2 hours (the Web site suggested a couple weeks). When I checked the rags, they had numerous rust spots that seem to match newly dull or silver portions of the globe.

So, I think the m&w works, but you have to be careful. I'm going to go back to very carefully rubbing the rust off myself. It should at least look better than before! I'll post a pic when it's done.

Another update - I just found out my globe is a Denoyer Geppert, most likely circa 1940s or 1950s. It's a military globe used to train aviators (I found several sources that had the same information). In excellent condition (which mine is not), it has sold for as much as $2500 - not bad for my $5 garage sale find!

This link might be helpful: http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=305915

I remember this type of globe in school in the late 60's. In a geography lesson the teacher (or student) would draw the borders and label the countries, oceans, etc in chalk. It could be erased and used over, and never becamed outdated like standard globes do.

phoenix3 - I was told when I bought it that it came from a school, but when I saw it on the Web and researched it further, I found that it is a military globe. Probably was used in both places. Thanks for the info!

This Denoyer-Geppert globe is indeed a valuable piece of military history, it has a chalk surface that was commonly used for planning war strategies, also the metal is highly magnetic and the semi-meridian is raised off the globe to leave room for attached objects. I have the exact same one, they are easily worth a few thousand dollars depending on the condition. Did you find any other good methods for cleaning the rust or otherwise restoring colour?

If it is rusty, it is not tin. It could be tin plated sheet metal. It could be painted sheet steel. First, the entire globe would have been painted with the ocean color, and then, land masses painted on.