Ingraham Pallet dial - do anything or nothing?

[Bill Stuntz]

Now that I'm working on the clock again after my unplanned open heart surgery, I need to figure out what to do with this - if anything.

I've tried a little dish washing liquid on the edge where the brass wraps around the back with no apparent damage or improvement. The "X" between 4 & 5 probably means "don't wind this one" and appears to be pencil. I'm not sure what the "water spots" are, or the "blob" between 6 & 7. I don't know whether they are in fact water spots, or lacquer runs, or what. I don't see any sign that the case has been wet.

The photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight using my cell phone camera from various angles and rotated before posting. I'd really like to make that "X" go away, but I'm not sure what to do about the rest. And can I get rid of the "X" without calling attention to the fact that it's been removed?

 

[Tinker Dwight]

Hi
You might try a soft gum eraser or if you can find it, some kid's
"silly puddy".
It doesn't seem to be the original face on that slab.
Tinker Dwight

 

[Bill Stuntz]

Here's info I've found online - apparently a text only scanned/ocr copy of an Ingraham catalog.

THE E. INGRAHAM CO., BRISTOL, CONN.



NEW DEPARTURE
LINE

Five Inch Solid Brass Dial,
with Silvered Metal Orna-
ments in Corners
Eight Day
Hour and Half Hour
Cathedral Gong Strike
Two Styles of Case
Each Style in Three Colors,
Golden Oak, Antique Oak,
and Mahogany Rubbed Finish
Height, 18 inches
List each, $4.35
Fitted with Alarms, 45 cents
each, additional list
Six Clocks in a Box



77



PALLET




REBUS
I'm convinced that the dial is original. These photos are ones I've found of the Pallet's sister clock, the Rebus. I haven't found any photos of the Pallet - mine looks identical to the 2nd photo but has a flat top, instead of the roof.



I'm a newbie and don't know what to try - I've read the horror stories about clocks/antiques that have been ruined by well-meaning amateurs who didn't have any idea what they were doing. I wonder about trying something like goo-gone or some other cleaner/solvent? I'd expect an eraser scratch the brass - or am I wrong? OOPS - I was thinking of one of the abrasive pink erasers, not the gummy kind.
The colored numbers seem to be the painted front surface of the backing plate showing through the brass face - which seems to be made like a stencil.

Or should I call it patina/history and just leave it alone?

 

[Thyme]

I'm a newbie and don't know what to try - I've read the horror stories about clocks/antiques that have been ruined by well-meaning amateurs who didn't have any idea what they were doing. I wonder about trying something like goo-gone or some other cleaner/solvent? I'd expect an eraser scratch the brass - or am I wrong? OOPS - I was thinking of one of the abrasive pink erasers, not the gummy kind.
The colored numbers seem to be the painted front surface of the backing plate showing through the brass face - which seems to be made like a stencil.

Or should I call it patina/history and just leave it alone?

Nothing you can try will help. It's a solid brass dial and all those ugly spots you are seeing are oxidation (tarnish) from where the coating has worn off. Patina enhances a piece; corrosion and unattractive tarnish are not patina. It's not clear what the globs are - probably someone tried to lacquer or varnish it and it looks like they are runs.

The good news is that it is restorable. For an example of a brass dial that needed similar work click here. Contact me if you are interested in having it restored.

 

[Bill Stuntz]

That's NOT the answer I wanted! I'd love to have you restore it for me, but with not working for a couple months, I can't afford it.

 

[Bruce Alexander]

What a nice clock! Certainly not what I had imaged, and I can now see why the dial/face has you stumped. That's a tough one! This is something I would send out. If nothing else helpful crops up here, I would just finish the maintenance, reassemble the clock and enjoy it as is for now. You can always send the dial out later, and it's probably a good thing not to make the restorer's job any more difficult than it already is. Good luck.

 

[David S]

Bill I would go with TAT's suggestion. I have tried to clean old dials using the mildest stuff first like eye glass cleaner and trying to move up when that didn't work..usually ended up with a mess.

BTW nice to see you back.

David