Restoration of a 200-year-old Schwieso Grecian Concert Harp

Business Need

Our client Ian Bartlett, a private collector and restorer of antique musical instruments, initially approached a professional instrument restorer for help with a 200-year-old Schwieso Grecian concert harp, crafted primarily from brass. He was quoted £1,500 for the cleaning alone.

Seeking a more cost-effective but equally careful solution, he reached out to Sonic Solutions, trusting our reputation as industrial cleaning specialists to handle the delicate restoration of this rare artifact — one of only around 900 ever made.

The harp was heavily tarnished and corroded due to centuries of exposure, with surface contaminants that required removal without damaging the original metalwork or intricate detailing.

Our Role

We designed a bespoke two-step cleaning process tailored to the harp’s brass components. First, we applied a controlled acid treatment to break down oxidation and corrosion from the surface, safely revealing the underlying brass without aggressive abrasion.

Then, using our ultrasonic cleaning technology, we gently removed all loosened residues and contaminants from the detailed brasswork and delicate fittings. This method ensured a deep, thorough clean while protecting the harp’s structure and craftsmanship.

The Outcome

The restoration revealed the original brilliance of the brass and preserved the fine historical details of this rare musical instrument. The client was delighted to have the harp cleaned and stabilized for just £350 — a significant saving compared to the £1,500 quoted by traditional restorers.

Our work provided a museum-quality result at a fraction of the cost, ensuring this unique piece of history can now be appreciated for generations to come.

Business Need

Calderdale Museum in Halifax, a volunteer-run institution, reached out to Sonic Solutions as part of their mission to restore a 300-year-old wool comb machine — set to become the only working one of its kind in the world.
At the heart of this restoration was one of the machine’s large circular combs, a key component covered in decades of grime and oxidation, with hundreds of razor-sharp pins that made handling and cleaning both hazardous and delicate.
With limited funding and a strong commitment to historical preservation, the museum needed a cleaning partner who could balance expert care with cost-effectiveness.

Our Role

We were proud to support this heritage project by offering our ultrasonic cleaning services at a specially reduced rate, recognising the museum’s volunteer-led nature and the cultural value of the restoration.
Using our ultrasonic cleaning systems, we carefully removed built-up contamination from the comb without damaging the fine brass structure or the sharp metal pins.
Special safety protocols were followed to clean around the pins, which were sharp enough to easily pierce skin, requiring precision handling and non-invasive cleaning techniques to preserve both staff safety and the component’s integrity.

The Outcome

The cleaned comb was successfully refitted into the wool combing machine, and we’ve since received images from the museum showing the machine fully assembled and running for the first time in centuries.
This restoration didn’t just bring a historical artifact back to life — it restored a piece of living industrial heritage, made possible by volunteers and supported by our specialist cleaning team.
We’re proud to have played a part in preserving British textile history and helping the museum make it accessible for future generations.

Client Testimonies

Some words from Roger swift…
“We used Sonic Solutions a few weeks ago to clean one very large wool combing circle and four small ones at the Calderdale Industrial Museum, they were virtually impossible to clean by hand as they were very intricate and easy to damage and no replacements were available at all. We contacted Ryan at Sonic Solutions and he was happy to undertake the job. He arranged the collection and delivery as we didn’t have a vehicle large enough to accommodate them. We were all so impressed with the quality of the finished job, they look like new, and as we are an industrial museum it is very important to us. We hope to have the machine up and running shortly and we believe it will be the only Noble Comb still running in the country, possibly in the world. Many thanks to Ryan and the team at Sonic Solutions, great job!”

Some words from Ian Christie…
“Sonic help led us out at the calderdale industrial museum, great thanks to them, as we struggled to find a way of cleaning the old parts of a 19th century wool combing machine, very professional and friendly service”

Business Need

Our client Clearfield Envirotech who are a plastics recycling company, urgently needed specialist cleaning for their unbranded plastic filtration sets used in an EREMA system. Upon inspection, we found an unprecedented level of metal contamination — screws, nails, and wire were embedded within the blade housing.

The volume of contamination was far beyond typical levels, posing serious risks to operational efficiency, product quality, and equipment lifespan. With two sets sent to us at a time, it was crucial to fully restore the housings to safe, clean, and functional condition to keep their recycling processes running smoothly.

Our Role

Sonic Solutions tackled the extreme contamination challenge with a two-stage specialist process. First, we used pyrolysis to safely and effectively burn off all residual plastic material from the blade housing. This crucial step exposed the deeply embedded metal contaminants like screws, nails, and wire.

Following pyrolysis, we applied our ultrasonic cleaning processes, using precision cleaning techniques to loosen and manually remove all remaining metal debris(we are able to scoop out the contamination

The Outcome

We successfully restored the blade housing to its original working condition, ensuring it was clean, safe, and fit for purpose. Our intervention prevented potential damage to the client’s machinery and significantly reduced the risk of downtime and costly repairs.

The client can now confidently maintain production quality and efficiency, backed by the reassurance of a thoroughly decontaminated and restored set.

Business Need

A leading automotive manufacturing facility required a specialist solution for cleaning metal components contaminated with adhesive. Initially, the task involved removing adhesive from various metal parts. However, due to the success of our approach, the company later engaged us to clean small silicon busbar housings covered with hardened adhesive. The challenge was to carry out these delicate cleaning processes without damaging the components while ensuring a safe and controlled environment.

Our Role

To address this issue, our team implemented a precise and controlled cleaning process:

• Acetone Soaking & Ultrasonic Cleaning: We developed a two-stage process where metal parts were soaked in acetone and then ultrasonically cleaned in the same solution.
• Explosive Risk Mitigation: Given the flammable nature of acetone, we maintained strict monitoring throughout the ultrasonic cleaning process to prevent ignition risks.
• Silicon Busbar Housing Cleaning: As the project expanded, we introduced new methods to remove hardened adhesive from delicate silicon busbar housings, ensuring their integrity while achieving a thorough clean.
• Quality Control & Safety Measures: All cleaning procedures were carefully monitored to ensure the components remained undamaged, and our team followed stringent safety protocols to prevent any hazardous incidents.

The Outcome

The completion of this project resulted in:

• Successful removal of adhesive contaminants without damaging the metal or silicon components.
• A refined cleaning process that ensured all parts were restored to optimal condition.
• Increased client trust, We have now seen more jobs from our happy client, further evidencing their faith in our ability.
• Strict adherence to safety protocols, preventing any incidents while working with volatile cleaning agents.

Business Need

Leeds Galvanised was approached in November to resolve an issue with stainless steel structure blocks intended for a car park. These parts had been mistakenly powder-coated, which rendered them unsuitable for their intended application. The company required a reliable solution to remove the coating while ensuring the integrity of the existing galvanisation. The challenge was to execute this process efficiently without compromising the durability of the components.

Our Role

To address this issue, our team implemented a precise and controlled solution:

• Pyrolysis Oven Treatment: We utilised high-temperature pyrolysis to effectively burn off the incorrect powder coating without damaging the galvanised components.
• Jet Washing Process: After the coating was burned off, we jet-washed the parts to remove all ash and contaminants, ensuring a clean and properly treated surface.
• Quality Assurance: Rigorous inspections were conducted post-treatment to ensure all components remained in optimal condition.
• Efficient Turnaround: Given the project’s complexity, we worked to complete the process swiftly while maintaining quality, allowing the project to proceed without further delays.

The Outcome

The completion of this project resulted in:

• Successful removal of incorrect powder coating without compromising the original galvanisation.
• Thorough cleaning of all components, ensuring a contaminant-free surface.
• Minimised project delays, enabling the car park construction to continue as planned.
• Client satisfaction, with the assurance that the issue was resolved effectively and professionally.