by nvmos2 » Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:48 am
Shane;
It's really nice that you are striving for a correct restoration that is faithful to the original machine.
I don't do restorations, so an expert's input would help here, but these are my impressions:
I agree with Bob; handle paint should match the primary front color.
Some guys call this group of Mills cabinet style Half Tops or Half Cab(inet)s, as distinguished from the High Tops which came next in time.
I have a small stash of period Mills ads; from looking thru them, I would say, as a general rule:
For Mills Half Cabs with the club handle, the handle is painted with the dominant front color.
High Tops with this style handle, on the other hand, seem to be reversed in the ads; the handle is painted with a secondary/trim color from the front.
I have 2 original Mills Half Cabs with the club handle; the handles are painted to match the primary front color on both of them.
I don't think Mills generally painted the handle bushings or used chrome on the Half Cabs; use nickel plating.
(If you're doing a Brown Front, think subdued!)
However, looking back to the machine photo that started this thread, I'm still thinking you may have a Brown Front Blue. It looks like the red may have been redone later, but maybe not; the unusual dark blue color looks to go back to the good old days.
If in fact that's what you have, Mills may very well have painted the handle bushing to freshen it up during the revamp.
IMO, if you believe you have a Mills revamp, I'd stick with that; it's unusual and more interesting!