Homemade hinges for Allwin machine

[Siouxzan]

I conducted my search to the ends of the Earth and beyond and couldn't find replacement hinges of the weird dimensions required for my "new" Allwin.

Upper right in the 1st pic is the original half hinge (these are lift-offs) that I had. I decided, at least until I (hopefully) find replacements someday, to make my replacement hinges out of brass, as I have the ability to work with it. I considered nickel plating them to more match the originals, but I decided against it.

The machine's locks are brass, so I figured brass hinges wouldn't be too out of line (sad excuse for a purist). The tricky part was matching the patina. The lock patina is particularly rich and aggressive. I actually sort of like it. I was up until 3am on a school night forcing the hinges to acquire a similar look.

[Lazarus]

Vary vary nice! You would never know unless you said something.

[JACKSJE4]

Excellent Job!!

You could advertise on the Penny Arcade website and sell lots of them to make $$!! It probably wouldn't matter how much you charged for them. They look so close to original that Allwin enthusiasts would snap them up!

Jeff

[NJ_Mike]

You are definitely an AR-TEEST. Great attention to detail.

[Siouxzan]

Excellent Job!!

You could advertise on the Penny Arcade website and sell lots of them to make $$!! It probably wouldn't matter how much you charged for them. They look so close to original that Allwin enthusiasts would snap them up!

Jeff

That's mighty tempting. It seems like missing Allwin hinges are all too common. But... that would take away from my project time, and that's no good. Thanks for the compliment!
______________________________________________________

You are definitely an AR-TEEST. Great attention to detail.

AR-TEEST!
I love it!
Thanks so much for that compliment.

[Moparformances]

all i can add is

DAMN NICE

[mudfud]

nice work! did you bang it up with a ball peen and then oxidize to get that "weathered" look?

I once had a bucket handle to match 70 year old ones in my house, made of bronze, and managed to get my father to cast me one (he was taking metal sculpture then). that's another option if you have one good one to work with.

[Siouxzan]

nice work! did you bang it up with a ball peen and then oxidize to get that "weathered" look?

Thanks Chewy.
I let the oxidation treatment take care of the erosion effect. Got a little carried away, actually. I started with perfectly smooth, polished metal. After a few failed experiments (for example, ammonia gassing) that resulted in too uniform and dark (e.g. black) finishes, I did the following:

1/3 cup ammonia (not the sudsy stuff-- "janitorial strength")
1/3 cup white vinegar
2 tbsp salt (pretty much saturates that solution)
Mixed it with kitty litter until just damp, buried pieces inside, packed lightly, and sealed in a tupperware container for 3 hours.
The kitty litter in close contact with the brass erodes/pits it while those not give a lighter mottling. The salt helped give it a verdigris that was impressive-- dark blues ranging to turquoise colors. I burnished those colors (0000 steel wool) off because the locks didn't have them.

I like this technique because, unlike most, you get a deep patina rather than a surface patina.

[JACKSJE4]

I still say that you could make Allwin parts and sell them to collectors to fund your Pachi addiction. Just think of the things you could buy with the proceeds!

Who knows, you could probably afford a $28,500 Arepachi should one become available.

Jeff

[bfree]

Mixed it with kitty litter until just damp, buried pieces inside

I'm sorry, I know this childish but my cat won't stop laughing.

[Siouxzan]

I'm sorry, I know this childish but my cat won't stop laughing.

Yes, I admit, I learned this technique from my cat. She is an AR-TEEST