Couple new candlesticks

[Gilas]

Well I was able to pick up a couple new phones over the last week and have a couple questions. The first is a 22 that looks good overall with just a tiny amount of brass showing through here and there.  My question is that the finish has a duller look to it not the high shine that I see some of the others obtain, it almost looks like it has tiny flecks in the nickel but when I polish it they don't come out.  Would 0000 steel wool help or would that take more off and show the brass?

The other one that I got had the number stamped out WELL.  Hard to make out but almost looks like it says 20S?  That would fit right since they were black to begin with right? Anyone have better eyes then me or offer suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Mike

[Sargeguy]

That is a sweet type 22.  What is the transmitter on it?  It may have been sandblasted at some point and painted black, but they would have changed the mark.  Is there a mark stamped into the front of the perch?  It may have corroded and then been polished

I agree it looks like a former 20-S

[Sargeguy]

I would use #002 steel wool, then 001, then 000, followed by 0000.  Go slow in one direction, alternating when you change the wool.  Change the wool as soon as you notice improvement in the finish.  Practice on the shaft first, that part is easy to replace if you over-do it.

[Gilas]

Sarge,

The 22 has a *229* on it and no other marks anywhere on the perch.  Thanks for the hint on the steel wool.  Here are some better pics now that the sun is sorta out for the NW.

[poplar1]

Mike, since there is a line through 20-S, there should be another model, perhaps 20-AL, on the front or side of the perch.

So why did 22 appear before 20?

[Gilas]

Ah yes 20AL. I was looking on the 22 for another stamp since he had been talking some about the 22. Thanks!! Haven't played much with the 20S/AL yet. The 22 is too much fun
ATM

[Sargeguy]

To clarify, nickel plated sticks were often sand-blasted before being painted black.  They would've been re-stamped either on the back or the front of the perch.  Such stamps are interesting, but usually hurt the value of the phone. This practice would account for the dull finish, which can be hard to polish.

[dencins]

Greg is correct that the common practise for candlesticks was to sandblast before painting.  If a phone has been sandblasted before painting my approach to clean up the finish before nickel plating is to sand starting with 220 grit to get out the major scratches and gouges followed by 600 then 1000 then 1500.  Once that is done I use 0000 steel wool followed by buffing with red rouge compound.  You need to be careful around areas with stamped letters to make sure they are not sanded out.

If I am polishing nickel plating I use Simichrome with either paper towels or cotton balls.  Nickel plating is very thin so it does not take much to polish it off down to the brass.

Dennis Hallworth

[Mr. Bones]

Greg is correct that the common practise for candlesticks was to sandblast before painting.  If a phone has been sandblasted before painting my approach to clean up the finish before nickel plating is to sand starting with 220 grit to get out the major scratches and gouges followed by 600 then 1000 then 1500.  Once that is done I use 0000 steel wool followed by buffing with red rouge compound.  You need to be careful around areas with stamped letters to make sure they are not sanded out.

If I am polishing nickel plating I use Simichrome with either paper towels or cotton balls.  Nickel plating is very thin so it does not take much to polish it off down to the brass.

Dennis Hallworth

     Another very good source of gentle polishing cloths is old, well-worn cloth diapers. Rather hard to find, nowadays.

     My Da' was a tool and die maker, in injection moulding, since 1946. My Ma' was a mould polisher. We have used Happich Simichrome since beyond my memory, (pre-1962) for the final dress-inspection passes, after various grits, rouges, etc...

Good luck, and best regards!

[Gilas]

I understand that the nickel ones were sandblasted then restamped and painted but the black one that was stamped 20S and now stamped 20AL is not the one with the small dots.  It's the nickel 22 that seems to have these.

I tried lightly with the steel wool and the finish is the same so decided to do the best I could and put it up on display.  Since 99% of the nickel is still on it I would hate to get it refinished just because of the little dots, most of which seem to be on the shaft.

Mike