bluebottle47

I've had this early 60s relic for decades and am currently trying to overhaul it. Unfortunately, it has a great big hand rest which prevents removal of the scratch plate (into which volume control and pickup selectors are built) unless it too is removed. It looks as though it's simply 'spiked' into the body, but I'm loathe to apply a lot of force lest I damage something. Does anyone know for sure how it's fixed? Any info gratefully received.