Thread: old photos

Cleaning out some old photos and game across a few that may be of interest to restorers. the first 3 are a restoration of a rocking horse done around 1979-80. pretty crummy pics but didn't have much of a camera in those days.

This is what I was given.

The whole thing was completely stripped, a new leg was made, all was assembled. The base was stained walnut and sprayed with 1060 (60% gloss) nitrocelulose lacquer. The body was completely coated with gesso (made by mixing hide glue, talc and water. This was then sanded to a silky finish and painted with white undrecoat.

The body of the horse was then sprayed with white full gloss enamel, then oversprayed with light and dark gray blending to patches of white around the feet then the black was sprayed in blotches and blended with the others. All clolurs were sprayed wet on wet to allow for a free blending and smooth finish. The teeth were painted white and the insides of nostrels and mouth red. Eyes were fitted and my job was done.

This was a pretty rare horse and the owner was offered $2,500 for it by the chap who made the saddle, mane & tail etc. He didn't sell but instead gave it to his brat children who within a month had totally destroyed it. And I mean totally. It had been attacked with an axe, a hammer, a saw and finally burnt. It was brought back to me for another restoration job. It was beyond repair and if I had my way so would the parents and kids have been.

Cheers - Neil

[This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 07 February 2002).]