MIMF

This is the third Concertone (Montgomery Ward's) "parlor" size guitar that I have come across now. This one would have been the top of the line in their 1920's lineup of mail order catalog guitars with mahogany 2 piece back and sides and straight tight spruce grain top with MOP inlays in the rosewood (or is it ebony?) fret board and fancy inlays. I don't know what to do with it other than maybe cleat a couple of tight nonbuzzing hairline cracks in the top. The neck is straight! The action is such that a neck reset would help it be a better player but still marginal.





My question is how do I treat the original finish in order to help preserve it? What do I clean and polish it with? This guitar has been stored high and dry...maybe too dry. What's the best way to treat nice old wood like this?

You could clean the finish with Naphtha and then wax it to brighten it up a bit. Some folks might clean it then do a light french polish over the old finish.
Clean, glue, and cleat any cracks before cleaning, waxing, or french polishing the rest of the guitar so as to avoid rubbing dirt into the cracks and making them noticeable.