The Brilliant is coming along nicely!

[hoover300]

Somebody is gonna be angry at me about this about how I ruined the patina. It was way, way more rusty than it appeared, especially on the inner spots. Just need to get a new bag made, and make the finishing touches like adding the motor mounting nuts.
Pic 1 is a before, 2 and 3 are as it is now. I'll take some final photos when the machine is totally wired and working.

 

[madman]

Was it originally nickel plated? If it was that rusty, I'm guessing you'll have to paint it?

 

[hoover300]

Yes it was, and I did paint it. Used automotive paint for the black motor housing, as it was originally dip painted.

 

[hoover300]

Argh, just noticed one small nick in the chrome paint on the front. Must've been from assembling the motor.

 

[huskyvacs]

I would have at least made it look to the original and not flat matte rattle-can, they do make dippable chrome paint if you look around the internet, as to if it can be polished, that is unknown.




You might be able to find something in an auto shop as that's what its main intent is for, touching up exhaust pipes and hubcaps, etc. Being a specialty paint it's expensive, but the only way to get a re-chromed paint job aside from having the part striped, treated, and re-plated in a foundry.

Spray paint is very tricky to work with, especially when doing it outdoors annd it gets windy halfway through spraying.

 

[hoover300]

I used chrome paint with the intent that it wouldn't be hard to remove if I wanted something different in the future.

The dipped option looks nice, but going by the size of the part(it is spot welded together), I'll need a pretty large container of it.

I have been thinking of removing the current paint, buffing the steel, and clear coating it. Definitely the cheapest option, which at this point is a factor. lol

 

[myvacsrock]

Great job on the Brilliant! It’ll never look that good again and it’s with someone who appreciates how weird and archaic that piece of technology really is. [this post was last edited: 10/7/2021-09:31]

 

[human]

That Brilliant is looking, well, brilliant! Nice work!

 

[madman]

Plating really isn't that hard. But if it was very pitted, filling the pits with actual metal that can be plated over would be very difficult.

 

[hoover300]

How it looked when I bought it...

 

[hoover300]

Finished(almost)

Still debating on whether or not to strip the chrome away, buff the metal, and clear coat. I looked on the inside of the fan case where the plating is intact, it is a matte finish. The same could be said for the small portion of untouched plating under the bag opening.

Now I just need to get a bag made, which may take a few months. I was able to source an original cloth cord from the 20s in great shape to use as the headwire. It runs great, anyone who wants an updated video of it running, email me and I'll send it over.

One screw post is broken off in the front, one motor bolt broke, and the other missing motor bolt has no matching nut. I may replace them in the future, but it works fine as is. The painted motor housing appears to have be a sand casting, or whatever the method is as the metal is very rough.

 

[vacmadman]

fantastic

Hoover300,

You did a fantastic job. This is truly something to be proud of.

Jim

 

[hoover300]

Thank you. Hopefully more restorations to come!

 

[hygiene903]

Looks Great!

Excellent job on the Brilliant! A rare machine indeed! After seeing the before and after pics I can see how much work you put into it. Interesting too, that it was made in Wellington, OH. I've been there before, and it's a stellar example of small town America.
Jeff

 

[rugsucker]

To restore a rare vacuum--

--Step 1-Go to a vac store that has vacs from 1910s-1990s upstairs,downstairs,front room,back room and back room behind the back room.
You did an amazing restoration.What I would like to have done if not spending my vacuum time with customers modern Rainbow,Electrolux,Kirby,etc.If you or others come back there is MORE to RESTORE!
Jimmy
423-268-4841