Old King Cole Nipper Restoration

[Roaring20s]

Searching the internet, there’s no discussion detailing a Nipper restoration. I also do not know if the Nipper Collectibles books provide instruction. I thought that I would add this here and on The Talking Machine Forum.

 

The following is my experience.

 

Thanks for looking.

James.

 

…………………………….

 

Ev’ry time I come to town

The boys keep kickin’ my dawg aroun’;

Makes no difference if he is a houn’,

They gotta quit kickin’ my dawg aroun’.

 

 

I bought this 14” Nipper two years ago, and soon after that an Art Nouveau mirror. They both needed airbrush restoration. Several years earlier I had sold my airbrush that sat inactive for a 20 years. Won an auction and a new airbrush arrived ready for use. Life decided to step in and delayed these projects for a year.

 

The mirror was successfully restored a few months ago, and now it’s Nipper’s turn. I bought him with one leg broken and poor packing broke another. At lease it had insurance and the project remained unchanged.

 

I’m a fan of watching an art restorer on YouTube, Baumgartner Restoration. While I do not adhere to the same rules he abides by, I keep in mind what he well explains.

 

The first two sets of images shows the scope of the project.

 

I pondered how to apply pressure on the legs. I thought of Baumgartner and his “clampinator”. I used a miter box to strap the patient down. This provided room to inject Titebond II wood glue all around with ease. A board pressed on the hind legs and the leg being set, simulated a table top and kept it in position with pressure and I could easily monitor it as the glue set. Also, I made sure to quickly wipe all glue off beyond the join.

 

The left leg was just hanging on, but all of its breaks fit together very well. The gluing and clamping worked perfectly and he sits evenly on the tabletop. Interestingly, this leg was weak at its time of manufacture. The pictured dowel was in it and has the same red primer under the paint on its end. I glued it back in place.

 

I used a small bit of foam sponge to clean the broad undamaged surface, barely damp and q-tip swabs dampened with saliva around the chips.

 

The red primer is water soluble and needs to be sealed. I used thinned white Testors model paint for that.

 

Next I filled the newly primed voids with several passes of Dap Alex Plus spackel until the edges did not cast a shadow or reflect light, all the time avoiding getting it on the surface beyond the void.

 

I originally thought I would use flat Testors model paint, but I could not get the color close enough. I switch to water color paint. The color that worked for this dog was thinned Yellow Ochre sprayed until the white spackel began to look yellowish. If need, thinned Burnt Umber on top of that. Nipper will be sealed with rattle can Krylon Sealer (it’s a satin clear).

 

The original finish with its aged surface and touch-ups are available upon close inspection. The magic begins about 12” away.

 

[homestead]

Absolutely Fantastic Job!!!!   Gives me hope for my 17 inch paper mache Nipper with a broken leg and some chips.    Well Done Sir, Well Done!!!

[phonogfp]

A very impressive and sympathetic restoration!  Congratulations!

 

George P.

[Roaring20s]

I think this dog will be allowed on the furniture now. 😀

Thank you!

 

James.