No that was not me. Different Jon I guess.
I was able to get the hammerite in Farmer’s Branch at Turner Hardware but they have changed chains and may have closed down since then as it was some time ago I was in the area. One could probably find a web site for hammerite products and find a store that carries it or buy it on line...maybe Amazon?
I can say I really still am pleased with the product’s long term performance and results. The Model G has had things like the metal hose handle and wands dropped on it etc. and not one chip so far and still maintains its glass like high gloss shine. I did this paint job at least 12 years ago. Perhaps this is the brand of hammered finish paint most vacuum refurbishers used because they probably had already been down the road of using ordinary paint only to discover it didn’t hold up very well.
I have had pretty good luck with rustoleums hammered finish paints but not nearly the gloss and it is peeling a bit but not much. This was on an old cruddy metal dust pan that I use for construction cleanup when demoing a remodel so it sees a lot of abuse. First, I think any brand of hammered finish paint is going to last better and then going with a better brand may even go further. I notice that if one doesn’t like the hammered effect of the paint several very light coats reduce the effect. For more effect, heavier coats accentuate the effect as it’s when the paint flows after hitting the surface that the effect is created. A very light coat will stick right where it is sprayed but a more dense coat will flow and move around a bit.
While using the hammered paints may not create an original look one may be desiring. It seems to definitely be more durable especially if the unit is going to be used and not just set out on a shelf or in a corner strictly for display or in a closet or other protected environment as a collectible.
To me there’s nothing worse than a vintage vacuum with a Repaint job that’s all chipped up, would have been better to just have cleaned up the original as best as possible and leave it alone. But I’m pleased that I’m my experience, the hammered paints are viable alternatives for quality restorations.
Looking back, I realize that Electrolux’s early vacuums were painted with textured paint on the lower portion of the XXX and then hammered paint on the model E and Automatic E direct from the factory on new machines. Most of those models’ paint jobs have held up very well compared to later AF, G’s, R’s, S’s and L’s which scratch off much more easily.
This is inspiring me to paint my AF that I ruined with that basic dark bronze rustoleum with a coat of Gold hammered paint to give it the similar look of the last of the model L’s that were done in the Golden Jubilee metallic gold. Some don’t care for the gold, but with the cream and beige plastic parts on the AF, It will be ok but I may try to find some hammerite in another color. I have the rustoleum hammered metallic gold already in my garage. For me, I grew up during the 1205 and model L years so most Electrolux’s were blue they I encountered but then my Grandmother got a Golden Jubilee and it matched her flocked living room wallpaper which had a gold flocked feather crest design in stripes over a cream background. The Golden Jubilee looked so regal in the livingroom and dining room with that wallpaper and formal furnishings. Plus the new color was just something to admire as it was so different at the time...then things moved on to the Olympia brown and cream which she also purchased to have upstairs as it too looked regal and went well as all of the oak woodwork in the house was varnished in a medium brown and the place had two tone hardwoods with differently colored inlays. My Aunt who lived with my Grandmother at the time was likely the one who pushed those purchases as she did tell me at one time how nice she thought these models of Electrolux looked so much nicer in the house than the previous colors they had which were primarily the blue variety (which by the way...often the blue plastic parts yellowed giving a more teal appearance.)
Sorry so got a little carried away here but it’s still about paint!
Jon
