Amateur Pewter Repairs & Improvements (hopefully)

From the queries received in revamping my collection it was apparent that a lot of collectors would like to know more. This was especially brought to mind by an Australian correspondent who had a delivery which arrived having been dropped badly and was clearly without information as to how to try to solve the problems.

Alex Neish (an important collector and authority) recently wrote that the definitive articles on repairs were those by Stanley Shemmell in the 1983 issues of the journal. Those articles dealt with hot metal work and the preparation and finishing for that work. Not having reached that stage yet - the basic repairs this article concerns itself do not involve solder work or similar hot metal work. Whilst those instructions were good, many collectors would welcome a demonstration they could watch.

Who is Albert Bartram (a past president of The Pewter Society and perhaps the only remaining pewterer – though now over retiring age – working with early Pewter) going to pass his skills to? For who else is able to effect quality repairs? Perhaps he would consider his role in Pewter - as a celebrity chef might to cooking - in say organising paid day courses on pewter work. Many members may be very interested in learning from him.

Early Warning! - a leading author and collector over many years on reading this article commented on those Flaky oxided Plates and Mugs etc as follows –

The issue about flaking oxide is that not everyone will start with electrolysis, and could then find that having pushed, squeezed and variously hammered their pewter, they now have a dismal looking items with grey scars where the oxide has come away. I learnt this the hard way, and would not want any well intended advice to cause others to suffer!!