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Can Old Humidor Be Restored?

V

victoria51

New Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2011
Messages
4
I just bought an old humidor. Not because I smoke cigars, but because the craftsmanship is exceptional.
Now I'm considering restoring it and giving it to my cigar-smoking friend.
Photos of the humidor can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41725250@N06/sets/72157626263973441/.

Is this a feasible endeavor?
And, if so, can anyone direct me to a book/website that might show me what parts this one is missing?

Thank you for any insight.
Victoria
 
victoria51 said:
I just bought an old humidor. Not because I smoke cigars, but because the craftsmanship is exceptional.
Now I'm considering restoring it and giving it to my cigar-smoking friend.
Photos of the humidor can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41725250@N06/sets/72157626263973441/.

Is this a feasible endeavor?
And, if so, can anyone direct me to a book/website that might show me what parts this one is missing?

Thank you for any insight.
Victoria
Click to expand...

Check out the pinned topic on how to season a humidor. As for what's missing, all a humidor needs is 1) to be able to maintain humidity, 2) a way to measure humidity, and 3) a humidifier.
 
If it were mine, I would not do a thing to it other than clean it up. It's beautiful just the way it is. I'm sure your friend would feel the same way.

Are you residing in the UK? If your friend does not want it, I call dibs! :whistling:
 
will do. thank you.

Shamrocker said:
victoria51 said:
I just bought an old humidor. Not because I smoke cigars, but because the craftsmanship is exceptional.
Now I'm considering restoring it and giving it to my cigar-smoking friend.
Photos of the humidor can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41725250@N06/sets/72157626263973441/.

Is this a feasible endeavor?
And, if so, can anyone direct me to a book/website that might show me what parts this one is missing?

Thank you for any insight.
Victoria
Click to expand...

Check out the pinned topic on how to season a humidor. As for what's missing, all a humidor needs is 1) to be able to maintain humidity, 2) a way to measure humidity, and 3) a humidifier.
Click to expand...

it is lovely, isn't it? lol, fraid not, i'm in the us of a.


jfields said:
If it were mine, I would not do a thing to it other than clean it up. It's beautiful just the way it is. I'm sure your friend would feel the same way.

Are you residing in the UK? If your friend does not want it, I call dibs! :whistling:
Click to expand...
 
If you found that in the US in that condition, then that's quite a lucky find you have there. :)

Honestly, I would not have it refinished at all. IF anything go to an antiques dealer to see if they can't point you to someone who can do some professional restoration without decreasing the value.
 
I kind of have to agree with the rest of the members here.I noticed on the bottom of the lid the border area looks like it may be losing some finish, other than that it looks pretty good. If you do want to refinish it, I have a book at home specifically about refinishing older wood to look original. I'll get the name tonight and reply then. Other than that, you've got quite a beautiful old humi. How well does it seal?
 
Humidor Minister said:
I kind of have to agree with the rest of the members here.I noticed on the bottom of the lid the border area looks like it may be losing some finish, other than that it looks pretty good. If you do want to refinish it, I have a book at home specifically about refinishing older wood to look original. I'll get the name tonight and reply then. Other than that, you've got quite a beautiful old humi. How well does it seal?
Click to expand...

the outside wood is in great condition, although very dirty. the inside wood is dry, but i can work that. springs inside lid are good and you have to push it down to close, so it seals very well.

dunhill website doesn't show any OPEN humidors. (wow, some of the new ones cost as much as my used car!)

from everyone's responses to my original post, i think replacing what was in the copper frame in the lid is the only thing i need to do.
it's obvious that something was once there - couple glue spots remaining.

a photo on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Alfred-Dunhill-London-Wood-Cigar-Box-Humidor-/330546247099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf61775bb
shows what the seller calls white glass and a metal vent to hold ? (sponge type humidifier?)

the patent <http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=02052826&PageNum=1&&IDKey=252CF74E0C20&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526p=1%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r=1%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526co1=AND%2526d=PALL%2526s1=2052826.PN.%2526OS=PN/2052826%2526RS=PN/2052826> mentions celotex so perhaps the white 'glass' is actually celotex?

thanks for everyone's responses - with your help i'll end up with a beautiful piece of craftsmanship for my friend.
 
Welcome to CP!

I would guess that the copper is solid copper and if you used some silver tarnish remover, it may bring back the original luster. There are other ways to clean copper, but I would try to keep as much of the original unit together as possible before replacing anything. If you remove/replace the copper you may lose the seal, but it sounds like you are putting a good amount of research into restoring this unit.

Cleaning the inside out should be easy enough. Does it smell musty inside or like wood and tobacco?

I would guess that the glue spots may have held the hygrometer and the humidifier, but a digital hygrometer and humidifier can be obtained easily enough. The glue spots may have held the plexiglass you mentioned in the patent. Here is another ebay listing with some nice pictures of the interior. I'm not sure of the year on this humidor, but you can see the plexiglass on the inside of the lid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150529789880#vi-content

That's quite a find and should make the recipient happy, regardless of the condition. Good luck on the restoration, post some pics when you are done I'm curious how this will turn out!
 
This looks like it has a ton of potential! What a beautiful humidor. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

_craig_


Edit--I can't spell
 
Agreed, beautiful box.

Please post pics when you decide how you are going to "finish" it.
 
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions!

Family demands are gonna keep me busy for a while, but I will definitely post photos when I get it cleaned up.
 
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