new pick up- id and info please

[puckhead]

just traded a slot for this on a whim, the look really spoke to me. nickel mills, but what is it called?  is that eagle card orig?  also, i like orig paint, but i like things to look nice too. this one is on the cusp.  i have never painted one. if i did, how to you do it so it doesnt look like crap.  spray bomb?  custom made spray bomb? a friend at a body shop?  brush ( ugh) . leave it alone?

thanks

[jay]

I have a very nice chest of drawers that was covered in about 5 layers of lead paint. I got it from my grandparents house. Apparently this came from my great grandparents which puts it in the neighborhood of 1890s. Each family member that used it got to choose what color they want and the layers built.... I used paint remover that peeled that stuff off enmass, sanded down the bits that would not leave, stained and varnished. I put on new (antique style) drawer hardware as many of the pulls had been broken and its a nice feature piece in the kitchen.


When I moved from Canada to the US (and 7 yrs later back again) the appraisers came in as I had an antique grandfather clock, sewing treddle a few neon lights in the basement from companies no longer in business (got to love corporate moves - they pack everything from forks to firewood).. I showed them the chest of drawers, they said this has been nicely restored. I said yes, they said it was very pretty but now utterly worthless and I should have kept the lead paint on for it to retain its value. For reference purposes last color was sunshine yellow with coffee rings - so that wasn't happening (it would have been in the landfill or garden).


Anyways thats my long rambling cautionary tale. So if your interested in the value of the piece - you might consider getting an expert opinion before you do any kind of restoration.


There are also a number of these units out there that have been made from remanufactured parts but yours looks pretty original and should be quite the show piece after a restoration.

[puckhead]

did some googling, its an extraordinary bell??

[Amechanic]

Does it still work? If yes then I would just give it a good cleaning and keep it original. They are that way only once... If you needed new reel strips, glass etc., then I’d go a head and restore it.