Battery service box restoration advice

[daltonathomas94]

I have been a linger-er. Lurking in the shadows.
A quiet bystander drinking in the fountain of knowledge you wise mechanics, craftsmen, carpenters and DIY-ers bestow upon the world.
But NO LONGER!!!!

So without further adue, allow me to still be selfish and contribute nothing.....
only loudly now.

Has anyone restored one of the old hard rubber battery service boxes? I can polish and paint, but haven't the slightest clue on how to work with the stuff to make it usable, pretty, and water tight (or trace acid from the baster)

I have been ogling these old boxes for years, but now the wiser half has placed an embargo on crusty things that sit on a shelf. If it can't be done in three days, it can't come in.

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[y'sguy]

Kewl, haven't see n one of those in awhile! We used to have them at the TEXACO I worked at while in HS. late 60's.

It's rubber as I recall, so seems like you could try something like armorall or similar. They make stuff that is not wet looking for tires and other rubber stuff. just a thought.

 

[daltonathomas94]

Do you remember if they where at all pliable? Or was it more like the steering wheel hard rubber on 40's cars?

(First hand accounts are the most highly appreciated)

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[y'sguy]

They could bounce a little if you banged them into something, not like a steering wheel though. You could also try a Johnsons paste wax. I bet that would bring out the details. try it on the bottom first. Is that the one that was on ebay?

 

[daltonathomas94]

That was just an example really, just looking around, but I wanted to make sure what to expect out of a restoration for actual use and how I should guage the feel of the rubber. I was thinking of boiling in water and wintergreen oil for a bit. Not too long if it shouldn't be "radiator hose soft."

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[Oregon rock crusher]

I like that your Autolite has the emblem formed right into the rubber Dalton. This likely younger Hobbs just has stickers on both sides and came from a shop that closed in the early 80's but it had been there for many years before that. It was filthy when I brought it home but all I did was scrub it with Dawn dish soap and a few SOS pads. Took quite a bit of scrubbing but I got nearly all the nasty's off eventually. I would think anything like tire shine spray shouldn't hurt it. Ed.