Bandit back door lock

[francos]

Hi,
Back again with more questions.
Can I still get a lock and key for this door and should I clean or keep its patina?

[pennymachines]

Original Mills locks come up for sale quite often on eBay and elsewhere. It looks like a wood-grain effect on the outside of the door. I'm not sure I've seen that before but would be inclined to leave as is.

[badpenny]

Original Mills locks come up for sale quite often on eBay and elsewhere. It looks like a wood-grain effect on the outside of the door. I'm not sure I've seen that before but would be inclined to leave as is.

Mills Spares Click Here & then scroll down to "Mills Squiggly Keys and Locks" there aren't many and they won't be £40 - £60 like on eBay!

BP

[gameswat]

That faux woodgrain is indeed correct for early Mills back doors. I'm no bandit expert so no idea when this came in and out and if it was on all models or not. But you do see it occasionally on nice original machines and I'd certainly leave it alone, just a mild clean should do. Painting realistic faux woodgrain is an artform that takes years to master.

[badpenny]

Well, you could knock me over with a crow bar!
I can do that, I've been doing it for years on all of the canal boats I've owned. It's a traditional art form to make a cheap material look like expensive cuts of wood.
http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/Tools ... cts_Tools/

To do the basics like on that machine door, you need (from the above website) Graining Combs and a Graining Roller (double ended)
The combs make the grain lines and then by dragging the roller across while slowly rotating it you get a totally realistic knot.

BP

[gameswat]

What I meant to say was that back in the olden days this kind of work was usually undertaken by specialists who could replicate all kinds of wood graining and colouring. I've had to repair and replicate many small sections over the years and none of my work has ever quite looked as good as the originals! But I was trying to match original existing colours and graining. I've seen marbling done that was truly incredible.

[francos]

Thank you guys I'm going to just give it a wipe over and keep it as it is