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I'm cleaning my rat escalator and have a question. I noticed on mine that the outer coin race cover plate looks to be just copper plated steel. Looks to of never had any black on it. And the coin race cover plate and outer coin race cover plate look to be painted or black oxide coated over a copper plate. There was some corrosion on them and you can see the copper plating. I'm thinking they will work fine just the way they are. If I wanted to take them back to black, what would you suggest? What was Watlings process?
Thanks again

In your picture it looks like those parts are brass plated, might be the lighting. Those 3 pieces you pictured were originally copper oxide over steel. I'm guessing that because Watling wanted the escalator black so the coins would stand out and didn't want to use paint because it would possibly rub off and gum up the escalator or coins might stick to the paint, they went with oxidized copper. This process was very popular at the time being used for many things such as floor machines, light fixtures, lamps, hat racks and on and on. Someone, previous owner?, has removed all the oxidation and polished the parts. I have had those parts recoppered and oxidized for collectors who wanted the machine exactly as it was, the cheaper solution is to paint them with Krylon satin black. You can also lightly buff it with 0000 steel wool to take the sheen down more. The two thickness spacers were nickel plated and the spider was silver cad plated.

Watlingboy

Watlingboy,
Right again. The parts are all copper oxide plated. (Bad picture). It looks like some of the oxide coating has worn thru to the copper and on the outer cover plate it was completely removed for some reason. I'll check into having them re-plated. I wonder why Watling didn't just black oxide the parts. There not made of stainless steel so they would black oxide nice. Maybe that process wasn't around back then? Your thoughts on black oxide coating as apposed to copper oxide? It is a lot cheaper process.
Thanks again

There is no rust protection from just black oxide on steel. Looks like you had some rust on your backing plate, that's common, all of those parts would be rusted is there was no copper on them. The process did exist because it was used on some nuts and bolts for 1930's Fords but they would dip the parts in oil to help retard the rust but that didn't last long. If the coins were wet or condensation got in there, those parts would rust.

Watlingboy

If you want to blacken the steel, you can buy steel blackening solution from Eastwood or most good hobby shops carry it. You will have to remove the copper. After blackening the parts you can seal the them with Krylon flat clear for protection.

Watlingboy