That doesn't look like powder coating to me. That looks like brushed aluminum.

What you see is what you get.

If it IS powder coating, which I doubt, auto paint supply, "Aircraft Paint Remover", spray and or soak for a week, scouring daily with steel wool, wear gloves and glasses, vented area. It will take a lot of work to get it off, it may not be worth the effort.

I doubt that it would have been used on drums at that time, due to it's expense and method of application.

"Dr. Erwin Gemmer, a German scientist, then developed the fluidized-bed process for the processing of thermosetting powder coatings and registered an appropriate process patent in May 1953. Between 1958 and 1965, literally all powder coatings, generally only functional applications with a film thickness of 150 µm to 500 µm, were processed by means of fluidized-bed application. Electric insulation, corrosion and abrasion resistance were in the foreground. The coating materials in those days were comprised of nylon 11, CAB, polyethylene, plasticized PVC, polyester and chlorinated polyether, among others, and at the same time, thermosetting epoxides, e.g. for dishwasher baskets (PVC), for heat insulation (epoxide), for boat accessories (nylon) and metal furniture (PVC, CAB)."

I'm with JR, I think they're cast rims and the finish looks natural for its age. I don't think there is any nickel hiding under there. I have a pro buffing station. I'd love to put those hoops under the buffing-wheel and see what it looks like after some rouge and a few passes.

Love the star pattern vent. Looks like a very classy, well-made little drum. If that shell is aluminum, it is a rare little drum as not very many aluminum drums were made in that era. Very best of luck with your restoration project. More photos please as she goes along.

John

not powder coated, raw metals my friend.

Leave that puppy as it is, I think its very good looking.

Hows it sound?

Hi Guys,

Thanks for chiming in! Yes, the shell is aluminum and the hoops are diecast. Both are original. Catalog page circa 1919 attached.

But the HARDWARE (center posts, tension rods, swivel nuts, and throw-off) have all been POWDERCOATED! You can really see it on the center posts where it's caked on pretty good.

I'm reading online that a product called Permatex Gasket Remover may work well to remove powder coating. Otherwise, some type of industrial strength stripper may be called for.

Thoughts?

-Lee

I don't know what you're seeing as powder coating (rust, corrosion?), we don't see any.

I'm looking at all your pix, I don't see anything that's powder coated.

So with all due respect, What the hell are you talking about? You're seeing things.

Agreed....

I would just get some Cape Cod cloths, put on gloves and polish the heck out of the hardware, then re-install it on the drum and be done.

Hi Guys,

I appreciate the replies. I don't know how to prove it to you short of you guys seeing the drum in person. (Anyone else in northern VA?) I can't photograph the thing any closer up. I'll grant you it's tough to see but something strange was done to this hardware.

I have about three dozen other drums with nickel plated hardware (I have the aching elbow to prove it...) including six more from the same manufacturer and there is something whacky going on here.

When I disassembled the drum, the inside of the posts and the hidden parts of the tension rods housed inside of the posts are bright, shiny nickel. The rest of the hardware has this gross semi-flat, sparkly gunk caked all over it and it doesn't come off the way paint does. It is not plating. It will not polish up. It is a very close match in color and texture to the hoops and some rust does show through, especially on the tension rods, so the pics are misleading. It shows best on the cap of the post in the close up shot.

Whatever was applied to this hardware over the original nickel plating was not in use in 1920. I don't know what else to say!

-Lee

Get the Aircraft Grade Paint Remover as I mentioned in my first post, take all the questionable stuff off the drum and soak the naughty bits for a while and see how it goes. Don't know what else to tell you Bro. Good luck.

ps: if it doesn't come off, it's not powder coating, but some sort of plating.

Thanks JR. One last attempt at a close up photographs here. The coating, whatever it is, is rough to the touch, literally like fine sandpaper. It shows pretty well on the tension rod close up. Very strange.

-Lee