Bertram Jones Turned Aluminium Staunton c1940s

A second rare example of a Bertram Jones turned aluminium set (please see my other set for more on Bertram and Bill Jones).  This set differs in that the kings' finials are balls rather than crosses.

The set had been overpainted white and black at some stage in its life - I could see a fleck or two of red where the black paint had chipped, so I decided to take the plunge and strip the set in order to re-paint in its original colours.  The photos are of an interim stage, currently, and tell a tale of learning.  I used the "boiling" method to remove the newer paint - it is as it sounds...you pop the pieces in a saucepan (never to be used for food again!) and boil for ten minutes or so.  The paint then peels off very easily - and I was pleasantly surprised to see the majority of the original paint stayed put.  The lesson I learnt was...don't add bicarbonate of soda to the water (as one web page advised me to do), since it blackens the aluminium with a coat of oxidation.

My next step is to remove the original paint, ready for repainting.  I had toyed with the idea of leaving the original paint and overpainting, but I think it would look poor.  I do quite like the stripped down version, with the shiny aluminium and remains of the original paint...but I wish to restore it to its original condition, so I will be dipping the pieces into "pure" acetone to help remove the last stubborn original paint.  I hope the acetone may also remove the oxidation.  This will be followed by a soapy water bath, then careful handling with nitrile gloves to avoid greasy fingerprints and painting with humbrol enamel paints (thinned with white spirit to help produce a smooth, brush-stroke free finish). Well, that's the plan.  More photos to follow once done.