Stupid bakelite question

[atomicomatic]

So I hauled a 1953 Sears Silvertone TV set home today, and began my normal cleaning routine. Knobs, bezels, and finally the chassis.

Low and behold, while painting the numbers on the channel selector knob gold, I got a little paint outside one number. Being picky, I took nail polish remover (I know, dumb idea, but it has worked on brown bakelite for me before) and cleaned that spot. I rinsed it off with water, and there is a white "film" on it now. I can scrape it off with my nail easily, but once it touches water, it comes right back.

I tried crest toothpaste, various polishes, and just cleaning it with a rag. The sheen refuses to come back. I'm hoping I'm just not SOL.

Does anyone have ANY clue how I could fix this? Finding a knob for this is going to be a pain, I would really like to use this one again.

Also, if I can't fix it, does anyone have a spare channel selector knob from a 1953 Sears? Looks like the one in this picture.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-SILVERT...item51a2012d97

Thanks to anyone who replies.