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Andy, I don't know what the weather is like in your area, but I would start by spritzing rubbing alchohol and carefully brushing with a children's toothbrush or chubby artist brush. Repeat from top down until the alcohol runs clear.
In this part of the world, the humidity is gonna hover close to 100% for the next few months, so hosing it off on the driveway and drying in the sun (ha-ha, what sun?) is not an option.
It's a balance between functional and beautiful. It's not hard to clean a chassis so that it will be perfectly functional. The TV won't care a hoot if there are, say, some surface stains on the top of the chassis after cleaning. If you want the chassis top to look shinier (some times I do, some times I don't care), try some metal polish. The TV will work the same either way.
I know a few boatanchor fanatics who remanufacture a set (I wouldn't call it restoration) by stripping the chassis down to bare metal -- removing all components and wires, drilling out and replacing all of the original tube sockets, etc. -- having the chassis either replated or repainted, then building it all over again. Maybe that's worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime set, but so far I haven't met such a critter :-)
Phil
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