Donald's Innovations and Repairs

06/19/2026

This interesting Merganser decoy broke his neck falling off a range hood. It has a metal rod that kept everything together but it seems to be under compression. I will have to glue it with two part epoxy and blend in the patina.

06/19/2026

Dolls are very personal toys.
Dolls are not easy to restore especially the face, eyes and teeth and the makeup!

Luckily I have a way to put in pseudo dentures and easily remove them if something is not right with the look.
It is very important to have a clear dialog with the client to get it right.

06/19/2026

The Home Oil two sided sign frame is cut out and the clamps are hydraulic press fabricated. The center panel and flat bar frame will be either welded or silver-soldered mostly to prevent warping so that two stick-on Home signs will adorn the double sided oil can display rack.

06/17/2026

The statue foot is finally being placed and soldered with pewter solder. There was still plenty of forming to get the foot just right and on the plinth, I had to make foot pad grooves and built up some of the surface of the plinth a little bit. It was imperative to make sure that it stood perfectly upright and balanced. Eventually , the plinth will be heavy enough to give it a lower gravity point.

06/17/2026

This model steam donkey engine is coming from Toronto, 4,206 kilometers away for a complete overhaul. I will be restoring this to fully functioning live steam, engine and fly wheel running. A live steam model like this keeps you on your toes at all times. I will be restoring the burner, the boiler, the engine and flywheel, steam whistle and safety valves. This is old school, not your modern computerized simulator! #

06/16/2026

This pewter foot has been cast and may be soldered onto the plinth and to the limb with a long pin. The plinth is next.

06/16/2026

This Home Oil can storage rack will receive a two-way, Home Oil sign frame. My task is to design and fabricate the mounting clamps and frame.

06/16/2026

I am about to restore a fuel hose and fuel dispensing nozzle made in 1922-24, that belongs to a #550 Visible Gas Pump built in Toronto in 1927 by Service Equipment Company Ltd. The split fabric portions of the hose will get a Hessian or Burlap sewn sleeve patch to be as near to the original fabric hose sleeve.

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

This lamp was knocked off a table, but the only thing that did not survive was the harp that carries the lampshade. I silver-soldered the pieces back together.