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Sometimes our toys need some help. Missing parts may need to be
added or badly damaged areas need to be repaired. Schoenhut circus toys and
other wooden toys may need restringing or respringing to display properly. These
are our recommended toy restoration experts.
Jim Sneed
For wood damage free restringing of Schoenhut, Ideal, Jaymar, dolls, and
other old toys. Paint restoration and wood repairs.
Click this navigation bar to see
restringing pricing for Humpty Dumpty circus characters.
Get your old wooden toys ready to display or market.
jlsneed2@bellsouth.net
(best contact method)
Location is near Charleston, South Carolina
We are often asked about care and restoration old wooden toys. We believe
that old toys should be preserved in a way that does not destroy their old
patina. Cleaning should be aimed toward removal of potentially damaging material
from the surfaces of the paint and fabric. This includes dust that inevitably
collects on displayed toys. Here are a few ideas that we hope will help you
preserve your old toys.
Dusting
We use the Lord Sheraton dusting brush. It is a good sized brush
(about 11 inches long with thousands of very soft goat hairs about 2 1/2 inches
long) that works perfectly on Schoenhut animals and performers. Here is their
description:
Lord Sheraton Dusting Brush
Hand made from the finest, soft goat
hair and hard beechwood, the Lord Sheraton Dusting Brush is the easy way
to remove unsightly dust, from those hard to reach places that your
regular duster just can't get to.
It
safely and effectively cleans objects such as figurines, carvings,
clocks and precision equipment, protecting them from scratches and
leaving them as good as new! |
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We are not sure if these are being produced
anymore.
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Cleaning and waxing
Sometimes, the paint and fabric of the toy needs cleaning to remove
material that can cause ongoing deterioration of the piece. Recently,
Michelangelo's paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel have been cleaned
of the hundreds of years of smoke and dirt accumulation. The result was the
restoration of Michelangelo's original colors and the stabilization of the
paint. If you want to try cleaning your toys, do so at your own risk. This is
what I do:
To remove surface dust, I use the Lord Sheraton brush above. For deeply dirty
fabric, I mix a solution of water and a mild laundry detergent for the fabric
and gently wash. I don't use bleach - not even Clorox II as I have heard that it
can fade older Schoenhut fabrics.
For the painted surfaces, I mix a tiny amount of car wash detergent (it is
safe for car paint) and use a brush gently over the surface, blotting with paper
towels. I am careful that the paint has good adherence or I could find it in the
paper towel.
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To protect the paint, brighten its sheen, and deepen its colors, I
use a wax product called Renaissance Wax. Click on the photo of the wax
to read a complete description of this wax.
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