What do you think or prefer? To let lamps as you find them or to take them to their original condition? Does it add value or it makes the opposite?
Hej Juan, look at my 882, nickel or no nickel, that was my problem. I decided to nickel, the lantern had to shine in the same way, like 80 years before. And now she is shining I am glad that I did do this. But I don't like lanterns. I like lanterns, in the find condition, too. I like it, if you can see, what has happened to the lanterns the last years.
so you re nickeled the 882! And your answers are exactly the point: is there the risk to over restore a lamp? The Px 822 I bought is in very good condition, without any dent and that's specifically why I'm asking.
IMO this subject deals with two actions, "preservation" and "restoration". If you acquire a piece that is in mint condition as found then a clean up is the obvious action to take. But if the finish is completely oxidized and cannot be "brought back" by the use of a rag and some metal polish, then a re plating is a course of action. There are many schools of thought on this subject. Some say "Leave it alone", they want to see the "patina" of age. Others want it to look like the day it was made. It's all up to the owner in my book. Does a re plate take away from the value of the piece? I guess the analogy of a classic car might fit this. If it's 100% original, in mint condition, it has more value than if it has had a fresh paint job and all the chrome re done. Does this apply for lamps? Who knows? I like shine myself. If an original paint finish is not to beat up, I'll just rub it out then wax it. Some antique objects are best left alone. Restoration can actually decrease their value. But it falls back to the condition at the time of the decision on what procedure to implement. Damned if you do, damned if you don't! Bob
My only advise is to know your plater and his reputation. I have seen some beautifull replating ,but I have also seen the detail of the emblem almost filled in by to much plating.
Dan brings up a VERY GOOD POINT! Perhaps the most important part of a re plating job is the buffing. It is an artform. The wheel in the hands of a skilled craftman can work magic. It's very important that who does the job knows to go REAL EASY around any stampings/embossing. They can be obliterated very easily. Bob
A very important thing to remember. I learnt this the hard way and now have a nice shiny Primus 1010 but with hardly any stampings left at all. One way to do it is to have the platers remove any remaining nickel then polish it yourself before getting it plated. Then you only have yourself to blame for any missing stampings etc. Remember though that any marks or blemishes on the brass show through in the nickel.
What should be realised too, is that a nice shiney fount demands the rest of the lamp to have the same level of 'newness'. Unless the object is rare, it usually is more economical to find a very nice example instead, the higher price of which can be less than the cost of a full blown restauration. Personally I like -and buy -old items as found, just cleaned and made functional, ranging from 'tatty' to very clean. The 'new' ones I gladly pass on, especially those in box. That traffic illustrates nicely how personal and different we can value items and we all can be rather content with different collections. Mike
Caswell also sells a nickel stripper which is muriatic acid. You can also take it down to the basement and put it in your nickel plater with reversed polarity. It draws the nickel back out of the engravings.But it is harder to do than the actual plating,because you gotta keep an eye on it. Dan
Replate or not? Whatever it takes to still have these lamps in years to come is all that should be important. Real collectors collect for the item and NOT for its value. Make them look good and operational and people will still want them after we have gone, otherwise they will all end up in the rubbish tip.
