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Old lead-soldered repairs

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Author	Topic: Old lead-soldered repairs
allentownboy Posts: 67 Registered: Feb 2009	posted 01-05-2012 11:28 AM Recently, I purchased an OSP coffee biggin that had an unsightly repair to the handle done with lead solder at some point in the past. Often when I see those types of repairs that are rejoining a foot or handle, or repairing a seam on a piece, I pass it by because it is so unattractive and appears to ruin it. This I purchased because the spout was just too interesting to pass up! My questions to the members are these: are these types of repairs "reversible"?? Can a talented silversmith remove the awful lead repair and do something more invisible on pieces that are not solid silver without ruining the patina of OSP or silverplate?? I look forward to hearing from members who have had similar situations and have some advice on how to proceed. IF anyone is interested I can also post a pic or two of the biggin and the repair. [This message has been edited by allentownboy (edited 01-05-2012).] IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 01-06-2012 04:47 AM The short answer is yes... A poor lead repair can be cleaned up and then the lead hidden by "sponging" that area. Sponging is the term silver platers use for just silver plating a small area not the whole piece. If the lead repair had been done well the first time and now with silver bearing lead solder the color would have been closer to the original finish and may not have needed plating. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 01-06-2012 12:26 PM Thanks for raising this question - I had been vaguely wondering the same thing for a while. I think the operative phrase in the question is 'talented silversmith' and that would be someone like some of the smiths here on this forum or their equivalents. I also think one would have to expect that such a repair is neither simple nor inexpensive. Highly qualified smiths are not at all common and they should be paid according to their rare skill. I always laugh to myself whenever I am talking with antiques dealers about damage to silver, or a missing glass insert for a silver bowl, or a non-working timepiece, or broken furniture or furniture missing a part, or whatever they are selling and they breezily remark something to the effect "You mean that little tiny blemish? Oh, that is just a simple repair that will only cost a couple of dollars to fix. Anyone can fix that sort of thing." All of these things can be repaired by qualified artisans who really do deserve to be paid an honest wage for their exceptional and unique talent, and none are inexpensive or easy if you want it to be done right and look right in the end. [This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 01-06-2012).] IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 01-08-2012 12:12 PM In any case, though, yes--please post photos. IP: Logged

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