Graflex Vintage Opinions - It's seen better days…

[Super Serg]

Hey gang,
I have a vintage that's pretty torn up. I was originally thinking of tearing it down and having it replated, but a quick search and previous threads told me that wasn't the best idea.

So what are your thoughts? I've seen people post about CLR and Brasso. Should I unscrew the red button, punch out the rabbit ears rivet and try to clean it up as much as possible before deciding?

In a similar thread, there was the consensus that OP, who had a beat up vintage, should just sell it and repurchase a cleaner one.

Thoughts?

Thx!

*ss*

 

[Toadmeister]

You will sell it to me at a significant discount (Jedi mind trick). Republic credits will do just fine...

Honesty, looks good to me in the photos. Star Wars is all about the worn hardware look.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[matty matt]

I'd put grips on that and call it a lightsaber. What are the brown spots? Has the plating worn off or is it something on the flash? Hard to tell in the pics.

 

[Super Serg]

You will sell it to me at a significant discount (Jedi mind trick). Republic credits will do just fine...

… I will sell it to you at a…

…waitaminute! Why you!

 

[Super Serg]

Yeah, they're mostly scratch marks. Looks like it was well used in its day. Maybe thrown into a tool/spare parts box.

It definitely has character. It looks like what we actually might've found after it fell on Bespin (the complete opposite of the pristine Maz version).

I might try to give it a good, loving cleaning and see what it looks like then.

Thx!

I'd put grips on that and call it a lightsaber. What are the brown spots? Has the plating worn off or is it something on the flash? Hard to tell in the pics.

 

[cayman shen]

I don't think it looks horrible. If that black crap is surface staining/dirt, I'd give it a gentle wash, maybe even test a spot with a magic eraser, see what that does to the scuffs? But otherwise I'd just make a saber of it! If you like it, and you have the nerve to cut up a vintage, that might be a great candidate for a ROTJ Vader, if you can find the conversion parts.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Yeah ... leave it alone ... add grips and a bubblestrip or board and call it a day ... and if it does bother you to much ... cayman shen's suggestion is the next step ... and the hunt for a more prestine flashgun continues ... start saving those Republic credits or kidnap a Ferengi for a ransom in goldplated latinum :lol

Chaïm

 

[Apollo]

I would leave it as has TONS of character

 

[Spyhunter2k]

Many have used a toothpick to apply aluminum paint to nicks/gouges that go all the way through the finish so that they aren't as obvious. After that, I think it would look fine.

 

[Super Serg]

After a bit of Brasso, this is the garbage that I'm left with. =(

Land fill fodder!

 

[Super Serg]

Joking!

This is the final outcome. Most of the rust has come off and you can now clearly see where scratches gouged the nickel out.

I might try and touch it up later (test under the clamp area), but for now this is how she'll stay. I'm actually quite fond of it.

Thx all!

*ss*