Help cleaning a vintage electric waffle iron

I just bought a lovely looking electric vintage waffle maker at a garage sale. The chrome is in good condition, the heating elements seem to work and the waffle surface is in pretty good condition.

I am looking forward to eating homemade waffles from this waffle maker without nonstick coating but would like to give the waffle surface a good cleaning. The top surface has a dark brownish coating that will require a little elbow grease but there is little accumulated oil or butter stained on the bottom surface.

Does anyone have any recommendations on cleaning the surface? There isn't any year on it but it is made by Bursted, Model 211 if that helps. It may be as simple as a scrub with a little soap and water with a brush but I'm not familiar with vintage surfaces.

Any guidance is appreciated! Thank you!

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It sounds to me like your waffle iron might be plain unvarnished steel. What you want to do is retain the coating of cooked-on oil that will make it virtually non-stick, like a good seasoned cast iron skillet. So I would wash it with hot soapy water (don't scrub) and then dry it, without destroying any baked-on finish it already has. When you use it, give it a light brush or spray of cooking before heating. Then afterwards just a soapy wash and dry.  Should be great!