Experts chime in - Restoring a Little Duke
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 8:32 pm
I am restoring a Jennings "Little Duke" machine and have some questions for anyone who has been up this road already. I'm starting out with a very nice original that was in its family for decades.
The machine I have is all original and complete, down to the un-damaged back door and original cash box. Even the mechanisms inside are clean with almost no rust or corrosion, so it's a prime machine. On the castings, they're all dull gray, no shine at all on the bare aluminum. So I figured I can bead-blast the panels to get them down to the shine, then polish the flat surfaces. I managed to pick the lock, and once I got into it, I removed a few of the tumbler plates and made a non-jennings key open it. I hope to find a Jennings key and put it back to original.
On the paint, I plan on stripping it all off with strip-eeze, water blasting it, bead-blasting it, then repainting with the closest matching color of Testor's model enamel. But my question is, do I spray it on, or brush it on? Some of the larger areas would seem to make sense to spray on the colors. Once it's complete, would you recommend that I spray all metal with clear coat?
On the coin chute: It's made of steel, soldered, and seems originally was tin plated...most of the tin plate has disappeared, leaving blackened metal. Is it prudent to bead-blast and flash-paint it with rattle-can aluminum, or should I just leave it with its patina? Same question for the coin box, although I'm pretty sure I should leave it as is.
With regard to the wood housing, it's in OK shape but could use another coat of lacquer or clear urethane, the latter being easier to do and would seem to give me nice results. Or, should I leave it alone, and just clean it up, hit it with a furniture polish? There are some pretty deep scratches in it, and I could probably find a stain to match the original stain.
Finally on the chrome plated handle: Pitted and looks its age, is this something I should send out for re-plating, or leave it with its patina? The coin entry is nickel plated and should clean up nicely.
Too many questions, too little answers, but thanks for any input you can add. I am replacing the symbol strips and award card, along with the inside instruction sheet. The original parts are in rough shape.
The machine I have is all original and complete, down to the un-damaged back door and original cash box. Even the mechanisms inside are clean with almost no rust or corrosion, so it's a prime machine. On the castings, they're all dull gray, no shine at all on the bare aluminum. So I figured I can bead-blast the panels to get them down to the shine, then polish the flat surfaces. I managed to pick the lock, and once I got into it, I removed a few of the tumbler plates and made a non-jennings key open it. I hope to find a Jennings key and put it back to original.
On the paint, I plan on stripping it all off with strip-eeze, water blasting it, bead-blasting it, then repainting with the closest matching color of Testor's model enamel. But my question is, do I spray it on, or brush it on? Some of the larger areas would seem to make sense to spray on the colors. Once it's complete, would you recommend that I spray all metal with clear coat?
On the coin chute: It's made of steel, soldered, and seems originally was tin plated...most of the tin plate has disappeared, leaving blackened metal. Is it prudent to bead-blast and flash-paint it with rattle-can aluminum, or should I just leave it with its patina? Same question for the coin box, although I'm pretty sure I should leave it as is.
With regard to the wood housing, it's in OK shape but could use another coat of lacquer or clear urethane, the latter being easier to do and would seem to give me nice results. Or, should I leave it alone, and just clean it up, hit it with a furniture polish? There are some pretty deep scratches in it, and I could probably find a stain to match the original stain.
Finally on the chrome plated handle: Pitted and looks its age, is this something I should send out for re-plating, or leave it with its patina? The coin entry is nickel plated and should clean up nicely.
Too many questions, too little answers, but thanks for any input you can add. I am replacing the symbol strips and award card, along with the inside instruction sheet. The original parts are in rough shape.