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Gold Tone Finish for Aluminum

August 29, 2012

Q. I am restoring a 1940s advertising clock whose outer edge was originally a gold tone. The clock is made from a thin stamped piece of aluminum that has been painted and decorated with paper pictures of the product glued to the surface. The thin round aluminum sheet is mounted a piece of fiberboard. The clock is approximately 20 inches in diameter and the gold tone edge is approximately 1 -1/2 inches wide and contains raised painted numbers. The gold tone has faded away over the years and only remains on a small portion of the surface that was covered be the bezel ring. The gold tone inscription that was under the glass is still bright.

I would like to restore the clock to its original appearance. I'm guessing the original was an anodized finish. I have investigated using a chem-film finish like Alodine 1201 [linked by editor to info/product on Amazon] and then covering it with a clear lacquer. I could do this but I'm a little concerned about doing it in a home environment. I don't really need a finish for harsh environments I would just like to re-create the original glossy gold tone finish.

Does anyone have suggestions on to best achieve the desired look?

Michael Browne
Hobbyist - Lutherville, Maryland, USA

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