Featured Howell, James & Co Regent Street London Casket Box - Date?

You are where? I appreciate any help even videos.

 

I'm in the South East UK, Kent, I restore nearly all the antiques I buy to some extent. If you can do it well you improve the value of what you have bought, try not to over restore, ie if you French polish a piece you will need to take the shine off using wire wool then wax it after, if you don't it looks too new. Restoration isn't hard on most antiques but there are some antiques that I can't do like micro mosaics, nor would I attempt to re-French polish a black piano and expect it to look perfect. If you are local then I'm happy to help but if not it doesn't cost a lot to start, mix your own french polish from flakes and isopropyl alcohol (blond), 000 wire wool, glue, a few hand tools (second hand) some wax, I make my own but Antiquax is about the best you can buy, screws are a pain, they come in many different sizes up to a inch and most antiques have Nettlefolds screws, these are well made brass and steel screws, the brass is a different colour and if you use a new non Nettlefolds screw it will stand out. I buy new old stock but these can be very expensive £4-5 for 10, fortunately I managed to buy 20 or so boxes of different sizes a while ago for £70 in auction so I'm set now. Please don't use coloured wax in replacement for wood, if it's a crack you can't close then mix the right wood sawdust with glue to make a filler and if there is wood missing then cut a new bit and inlay it, I can't stand restorers who think melting wax is a long term or acceptable restoration. Being able to restore antiques is a licence to print money, I never do it for other people, I often see antiques going for a fraction of their real value because they have something wrong that I can fix in a few hours (or less) and once I finished it would sell for top end because it looks so much better than the best out there. The last thing I would say is this, almost whatever you do to a antique (as long as you use the original materials, hide glue, french polish ect) can be undone and redone if you mess it up, so don't panic.

 

WOW ! Now that's what I call a response.I think 808 may deserve one of our extremeeely stingily bestowed 'Best Answer' Nobel prizes.
PS-Don't know if that's done anymore,passe' ?

 

instead of BA...it should be made into a movie !!!

 

Raver. I have been gone for a while, and so busy after I returned that I haven't had a chance to thank you for your detailed and knowledgeable response. You have no idea how much I appreciate your taking the time to respond and give me such great advice. Since I am on the west coast of the US, it looks like I can't bring my little box to you for some personal help. I am going to follow your directions and restore it. Your enthusiasm and joy just seeps through your words towards me. I have done french polishing before when it was the rage in furniture refinishing being too poor to buy new. Your formula is most appreciated because frankly I have become lazy over the years and just use commercially available products. I may be coming back to you for more help if you don't mind. It's not going to be easy to get those screws here, but I will find a way. Again, you are wonderful to share your knowledge. Kiko

 

Two of the better novels I've read regarding antiques are 'The Goldfinch' & 'People of the Book'. These are both fiction so I can't attest to their historicity but I found them great reads.

 

I wish you all the best and I'm happy to help if I can in the future. As for the screws, this site gives measurements of old screws, if you measure the head of another screw you will know what size to buy https://www.thevintagescrewcompany.com/screw-size-guide/