- - NOTES ON "RESTORING" OLD TELEGRAPH APPARATUS - -
There is a difference of opinion among collectors about the
desirability of restoring old telegraph apparatus to its original
condition. Most collectors prefer the marks of age in a hundred year old
key to a shiny like-new appearance. The restoration of old telegraph
apparatus then, may involve simply the stabilization of the deterioration
process or, it may involve the complete cleaning and polishing and
relaquering of the instrument. Restoration is a time-consuming activity
which can not be rushed. Quick, short-cut methods usually damage the
instrument permanently and are to be avoided at all costs.
ABOVE ALL, AVOID USING WIRE BRUSHES ON THE INSTRUMENT !
MINIMAL CLEANING AND STABILIZATION:
If the unit is to be kept in its present condition, a strategy that I
pesonally recommend, you may want to simply remove superficial dust and
stop further rusting of ferrous parts. The safest cleaning tools are soft
toothbrushes and cotton-tipped applicators. Detergents of any kind are
dangerous because they may dissolve or remove original paint and
historically important painted-on or ink-stamped-on identification marks
and decals. Also, historically important hand-written information often
inscribed on the bottom of instruments in pencil may be erased by
energetic cleaning. Rust can be stopped by Naval Jelly or, if the ferrous
part is black, one of the other compounds that remove and replace rust
with a black oxide can be used. THOROUGH CLEANING AND RESTORATION:
Before beginning a complete restoration, make sure that you have
adequate time so you will not feel rushed into taking disasterous
shortcuts. PLEASE give up any ideas of using motorized metal brushes or
steel wools to remove finishes or corrosion because even soft brass
brushes will leave tell-tale scratch marks on the metal and obscure the
historically important machining marks. It is also important to examine
every part of a key with a magnifying lens to locate any identification
marks that may have been stamped or written on the underside or on
individual parts. Once located, these marks should be carefully
preserved.
Most old telegraph apparatus was painted with a protective laquer
after manufacture and this laquer must be removed before the metal can be
cleaned, polished, and then relaquered. The least damage will be done by
using a powerful paint remover such as Zip-Strip to remove the laquer.
Apply the chemical using protective gloves and eye protection and wait for
it to loosen and soften the paint. Remove the paint residue with a
toothbrush or cotton-tipped applicator. Then wash thoroughly so that
metal polish can work.
The next step is to restore the original shine to the metal. Try
several non-abrasive copper, brass, and silver polishes until you find one
which you can simply apply and wait. The more you have to rub a polish
into the metal, the more you remove the trade marks and machining marks
and the more you tend to round sharp edges. After the unit is clean and
shiny and all broken parts have been repaired, it is time to apply a new
finish. A clear spray varnish will preserve the shined up appearance of
the unit but it won't look authentic. Since most telegraph units were
purposely painted with a duller finish to avoid distracting the operators,
you will want to use an amber colored laquer. This will bring the unit
back to its original appearance and you will have a piece of history to be
very proud of.
----->> ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, and COMMENTS ARE WELCOME ! ! ! ! !
Professor Tom Perera
Montclair State University