My latest restoration...

[hogans]

Hi all,

Here is my latest restoration, I am really happy with the way it turned out....

If your interested, check it out here:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250906041731

[paulbalentine]

Nicely done, I have seen that on there a few times!!!!!

[hogans]

Thanks Paul!

[BCFDFOTOMAN128]

Wow, how did you get the stripes like that, I'm in the process of repainting a firebox shell I bought as a parts unit it still had the mechanism and all in it, I'm taking those and restoring my herculite box. But this empty shell is yellow and I'm gonna paint it red but I would like to put the stripes on the side like your latest restoration has. I plan on making this into a display case for some kit bashed model tillers and tele-squrt that I recently acquired. I like that restoration by the way.
Jimmy

[hogans]

Those are the "White Stripe" decals and they are available on line...

[2chiefs]

I bought the same reflective tape at our local Ace Hardware. Probably a lot cheaper than ordering on line.

[almdoc]

 The original ones from Gamewell were actually water transfer like we used to put on our model cars and planes. These that I have for sale are copies of originals with small red "pat. pend." lettering in the corners only exception being these are decals and not water transfer. 20 dollars a set plus shipping. They were never reflective.

[2chiefs]

I think they used what they had for the stripe . I have an unrestored Herculite master box from a building in Indianapolis which has the same type of reflective tape used for the "FIRE" stickers on the side of my Gamewell boxes and several other differant company boxes in my collection. This a 2 inch wide heavy tape. The box was not restored because it is about 95% original condition so I believe the tape is original.

[hogans]

The reflective tape is not original, like the Alarmdoc stated, the originals from the Gamewell factory were water transfer & non reflective.

Many departments added anything for a white stripe when doing maintainence to thier boxes....

The ones that the Alarmdoc sells are as close to original as you will find.

[BCFDFOTOMAN128]

Thanks for the added input guys. I got my safety red spray paint yesterday. Now the question I have is I'm going to be stripping some the paint off of a herculite box I have anyone got any suggestions for what brand of stripper would not be harsh on this , also I have a shell but I have a mechanism ,gut box in it & I'm taking the gut box & I'm restoring the "31" herculite box to mint condition. But I'm not throwing away the shell I got. I'm going to use the stripper that you guys recommend to strip the shell I have and I'm making it into a collectibles cabinet complete with antiqued looking wood shelves in it , also since it don't have a door I'm gonna get a piece of plexiglas cut to the size of a door. When I get it done I will try and post some photos of both of them here.
Jimmy Long.
By the way a thanks to almdoc.

[hogans]

I would recomend that you have it sandblasted....

[BCFDFOTOMAN128]

I thought sandblasting would be too harsh on it. I wouldn't even know what kind of place to take them to.
Jimmy

[hogans]

Jimmy,

Sandblasting does leave somewhat of a rough profile, however it's the only way that I know of to completely remove any unwanted paint.

The box that I have pictured was completely sanblasted and re-painted.....

Look under "Sanblasting" in the yellow pages of your local telephone book.....

Good luck!

This is what they look like after being sandblasted......

[BCFDFOTOMAN128]

Thanks again. I will try that sounds good. I will post my results in photos when I get both of my projects done. I'm also in the process of restoring a old Tonka civil defense white - metro van too.
Jimmy

[almdoc]

If you go to someone who's business is blasting they have alternatives to sand that isn't as harsh. I use aluminum oxide in my blaster and it works great. The little bit of pitting you do get will be filled by a good quality scratch filling primer. A couple of other tips. On older cast iron boxes I use a strong mixture of Red Devil lye and hot water to years abd layers of paint off. In some cases I haven't had to sandblast using this method. A stiff scrub brush and cold water and it's ready to prime. I found out the hard way though that this DOES NOT work on Herculite and newer aluminum boxes. It eats them up. There are no threads left in the screw holes either.