Bakelite Cleaning and Restoration

Now I have not tried it personally but there are several videos of people using a buffer to get bakelite back to a real shine.

Here is a video link of someone restoring a vintage fan with a bakelite housing.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTWdiVwAF5U

I have used a buffing wheel with the white ( stainless steel) or the red (jewelers rouge) compound both work well the red produces more gloss. 

Polished a ZW with Mothers Car wax once. Looked like new when finished.

I bought two Post War ZW's that were pretty dull. I used Meguires polishing compound and they came out looking new. I used the very fine grit so as not to scratch the surface. 

  I have used goid ole Armour All with great results for years 

Al

I'd be careful being too aggressive with polishing Bakelite.  While the surface will polish up well, and it's pretty robust, once you scratch it, you can't polish the scratches out easily.  I'm surprised that a wire wheel actually worked, I'd think that would tear up the surface.