Mailbox bank restored

[ruccello]

Found this over the weekend and posted it a couple of days ago here with some other stuff. I gave it a couple of electrolysis baths, some wire brushing, and some paint. Here are photos of the different stages. I might give a distressed look, but not sure yet - I may enjoy it for a while like this.

First pic is what it looked like after I dug it.

Richard

 

[ruccello]

This is after electrolysis and wire brushing.

 

[ruccello]

And here it is painted in period colors (silver/red)-photo makes it look almost white/gray. Found out it was made by Kenton, early 1900's. Took me two days to find the exact one online - seems like everyone made these back then - and there are subtle differences in shape, size, lettering, size of mail slot etc. There are also a million repro's out there. I usually don't paint the cast iron stuff I find, but for some reason, this one said PAINT ME, PAINT ME! Thanks for looking.

Richard

 

[pikewaynepabottles]

Beautiful Job & Great Find !

 

[TJSJHART]

FANTASTIC JOB,,,IT LOOKED GREAT AFTER REMOVING THE RUST AND GRIME,,MAYBE JUST MAYBE I WOULD HAD LEFT IT UNPAINTED ,, TO EACH HIS OWN .

 

[ruccello]

Thanks guys, it was a fun project. I almost left it natural, but then I noticed it was difficult to read the writing in most light, so, I thought painting it as it once appeared, was the solution. If anything, it keeps it from rusting any more, and I can reverse it anytime I want. Thanks again guys.

Richard

 

[RedGinger]

ORIGINAL: ruccello

This is after electrolysis and wire brushing.

Wow, looks totally different. Good job.

 

[GuntherHess]

Nice item to restore. They sure made a lot of variations of that item.

I wonder if you could paint it then maybe take steel wool to it. If you could remove paint from high points the embossing would be highlighted. I have never tried it. How hard is it to acheive a worn look?

 

[cyberdigger]

Uhh, I do stuff like that all the time. I'd be happy to talk us through it if that is the chosen objective..

Nice mailbox! []

 

[ruccello]

Hey Gunther, I'm thinking of distressing it. Maybe hitting it with a chain or something to chip the paint in areas, and steel wool or sandpaper too. I'm still debating - it looks good on my shelf painted. Maybe I'll enjoy it for a while this way, then beat it up!

And thanks Red. It's amazing how well cast iron survives after 100 years in the ground. Electrolysis really does wonders on these old gems.

Richard