Great Find at Cowboy Antiques Show…should I restore?

[springpin]

Carleton,

First, a truly beautiful piece of Americana! I bet you jumped out of your shoes when you saw it.

Some issues to consider in your decision:
1. Do you have other display pieces in your collection? If yes, are they typically restored or not? If yes, this would be another one. If no, is it because you like your material to be "as found," or is it no because you are attracted in general to items in great condition to begin with?

2. Assume no one else sees your collection (or they do so relatively rarely), you are the sole or primary viewer. Let's say you restored it. You wouldn't have to explain to yourself "It has been restored" every time you looked at it because you don't have to answer to yourself. You should ask yourself why you collect in the first place. What brings you pleasure about collecting?

3. Whatever your decision, a portion of you will second-guess your decision no matter which way it goes. If you restore it, and it is the only piece in your collection that has been restored, you may wince a bit knowing it has been "altered" to enhance visual appeal. If you don't, your eyes may be drawn more to the flaws, as you focus more on what is wrong with it than enjoying what is right with it.

4. I saw in an antique mall "refurbished" coin-operated gumball machines, along with one that was described as being what these machines looks like when they are found before refurbishing. They sold for between $500 and $1,000. Judging by the condition of the unrefurbished one, I concluded that these machines did not have the original parts be refurbished as much as replaced. And an assemblage of replacement parts wasn't worth $500-$1,000, as to me it had become more of a reproduction. At best about 15%-20% of an old machine had parts that were potentially re-usable. Your sign looks to me to be about 70%-80% complete.. The refurbishing would be relatively small. One concern I would have is based on the sign where they show the before and after, the original to me looked to be in a lighter shade of blue than the after. Consider whether that would matter to you.

I'm a pin collector. I can only replace marred pins with better specimens; pins can't get refurbished. I would put the odds of you finding another sign like this one in much better condition as extremely remote. Fine art work gets refinished. Your sign is a form of art, something to be looked at and admired. Unless the cost is prohibitive, I would lean toward refinishing it. Doing so would enhance its eye appeal, which is presumably why you bought it in the first place.

Paul