Bent Antique Hinges?

Hi Forum Folke,

I'm not sure if repair questions are appropriate here, but I don't see a more appropriate spot...

I just acquired a late 1880's lap desk, which has unique hinges, unlike any I've seen in looking at literally hundreds of pictures of antique lap desks.

Problem is, they're bent (and the screw holes are all wallowed out, but that's a different problem entirely, one that I'm comfortable repairing), so the two halves of the case can't close properly anymore. I'd like to straighten them out (flatten them), but I'm a little afraid to just place them on a flat metal surface and use a brass punch & hammer to flatten them... an antique dealer who specializes in antique boxes (he's the one who told me when it was made) mentioned annealing the hinges before straightening them.

Does anyone here have any input on this? Do you agree with the dealer that they should be annealed first (was antique steel brittle, or can it become brittle?), or do you think I'm okay using 'judicious force' to flatten them?

I'm posting a picture of the hinges (in place, not removed) in case it's of any help to anyone who wants to comment. It's the two inner plates, the real load-carrying ones (the ones that fasten to the two case halves) that are bent; the two outer ones (that attach to the writing panels) are fine.

Thanks for any ideas/suggestions you might have (or even disaster stories from trying to do something similar!)

 

Probably something like 1018 mild steel and was never heat treated/hardened to begin with.

 

They could have become work hardened with use. Annealing is just getting them very hot and relieving stress; it would reduce the chance of cracking them when you try to straighten them. Given that you cannot replace the hinges, I would heat them before working them.

 

Thank-you all for your replies. I agree; as the hinges are not replaceable, and could quite possibly crack or part entirely across the screw holes. I will indeed be heating them. I suppose new ones could be fabricated, but I'd much rather retain the originals if at all possible, as it is them that make this different from other more 'run of the mill' lap desks. I plan to make a dedicated piece of metal "anvil" with the slightest 'crown' to it, so that the hinges will go very slightly past dead-straight, and the inevitable/unavoidable 'spring-back' will hopefully end up flat. Thanks again!!