Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Refurbishing Wayne 40 Brass Face Plates

One of my first projects this winter is going to be restoring my Wayne 40 and it has the very old brass face plates on it! I would like to reuse these plates but actually put them into original condition again. They are very unique, in that the writing on the front is raised lettering and wasn't stamped on from the rear. I'm afraid of sanding and polishing as it might destroy this raised surface! Any suggestions on what I might do OR where I might send them to be redone? I've put some pics on here to show my meaning.
Picture #1 is the 2 original faces!

Picture #2 is a close up of a single face so that you can see the lettering.

Picture #3 is an area on the back side where I tried out my sanding and polishing technique and it would make them look like brass mirrors but, again, I'm worried about destroying the lettering! Hopefully someone knows the answer to this one. Thanks---KEVIN

You'll have better luck breeding horses

C'mon Dick !!-Somewhere out there is an expert on working with this stuff and I just have to find him/her! Might have to browse thru some antique restoration sites looking for the right info! I'm not above doing it myself, I just don't want to ruin the raw materials here!

Your right, you better stick to wireing neon clocks !

Since it's not embossed lettering, has to be screened on.
Have T-way make ya some vinyl letters.

If there is some relief to the lettering and no sign of embossment it could be that the faces have been etched in some fashion.

I did this one with fine emory paper, one light stroke at a time. Richard
sorry for the flash hard to get a photo thru glass.

It appears from reading your first posting the raised lettering is the same brass but not actually embossed because there is no corresponding depressions in the back - Correct? Though from the picture I can not tell about the "Wayne" in the center. If this is correct I would use more chemical action like "nevr dull" or brasso (if they even still make that stuff)to polish rather than a true abrasive and then clean the raised letters to remove the residue (from never dull as I think it leaves something behind to prevent oxidation) and paint the raised letters black. Again as always experiment with the back. As I said I can't make out the wayne wording and you might have to have T-way make an identical decal. John

John I was thinking the same thing. They still make never dull & brasso & should have it at Walmart. I got some there a couple months ago. Then you could send one to T-Way & have him make the decals for you.

Anybody ever try just polishing them with a buffing wheel and compound? Then you could repaint the embossed letters or do like Dick said and have some lettering made. I think just polishing would shine them up like a new penny.

I'd give TarnX a try. It should still be around somewhere. Maybe even at the local drug store. That will take the heavy discoloration off and then try Brasso or similar to polish it by hand.

I'll used that technique on old fire extingushers with very good luck

The lettering is an embossed lettering of some type! Its definitely raised, although there is no corresponding impression on the back side, so it wasn't ever stamped in. Its raised quite a little too and catches a fingernail easily. Don't know how they did it back then, but its really unique!
I think that a chemical bath of some sort, is the first order of business, and then a light careful buffing with a buffing machine. I'll get some tarn-X and try one little corner to see what happens.
Keep the ideas coming if you have any! I've done a lot of brass polishing but I'm just afraid of ruining this lettering as its so unique. Thanks---KEVIN

I think machine buffing is not a good idea on these. The lettering will get a worn look. The edges will get rounded. Stick with the polishing by hand after the chemical bath.

You might be right Matt! The lettering is so crisp and the edges so pronounced, that getting them rounded off would be a shame.
I just found a bottle of Tarn-X under the kitchen sink and it expressly says to NOT use it on brass amongst other things! Anyone ever tried it on brass??

I'm thinking that I would talk to a brass plater, see what they use to clean brass, I would not use any abrasives on the brass, clean it and paint the lettering as original. tt

I did a 1920's mailbox with brasso. It took forever.Afterwards I wiped it with Meguairs NGT quick detailer. That stuff is awesome. It will make just waxed paint shine even more and seems to keep dust from sticking as much.

Check this link

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/brass

Or contact the real pros.

http://si.edu/mci/