Vintage Simpson butterscotch handle - diagnosis and treatment needed

**kevinm** · 07-30-2010, 01:46 PM

This vintage Simpson butterscotch handle has 2 distinct tones to it. The upper half is darker, duller and more matte in appearance while the lower half is lighter and more shiny. Where the sticker used to be, it is also lighter.

Could this be due to the fact that the upper half was somehow more exposed to light than the lower half and therefore oxidized more? I'd like to try and improve the appearance of the brush, ideally by making the top half more like the lower half. How should I try and do this? Would dipping the top half in very hot water be effective? If so, how do I go about this? I'm thinking that having the dividing ring there might be quite helpful.

I don't want to ruin the handle! Any thoughts would be most welcome.

rodeo · 07-30-2010, 01:56 PM

I'm betting it's just dirt. I dip tested one of my Butterscotches and found that the section I had dipped got a tad lighter and the water got dirty yellow too. That forced me to dip the entire handle in hot water to even things out, which it did and the handle did get lighter in color. Mine passed the 409 test and smell test so I do know it is catalin but the hot water definitely had an affect on it. Someone else suggested to me that it was dirt that came off and possibly thats all it was. (The water I used was very hot, maybe too hot.)

**Rudy Vey** · 07-30-2010, 04:51 PM

Looks like the lower half was buffed to get the shine back (and you also remove some of the darker layer of the butterscotch) - if buffed too much, one will remove all the yellow - brownish color of the brush!

**kevinm** · 07-31-2010, 05:01 AM

What would you suggest I buff the top half with to even up the color?

**Rudy Vey** · 07-31-2010, 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by kevinm

What would you suggest I buff the top half with to even up the color?

That is what I would do, just be careful not to go too much.

rodeo · 07-31-2010, 05:11 AM

I've read to use "Semichrome" polish.

But be very careful as it could remove all the butterscotch if you're not careful.
Use it sparingly.

**Legion** · 07-31-2010, 05:25 AM

I'm guessing the bottom half is more glossy because it has been rubbed by many hands holding it over the years. The outline of the sticker makes me think that the darker colour is not just dirt, but there is an easy way to find out. Why not just give it a good wash with plain old soap and water? Grab a face cloth, get it nice and soapy and give the handle a good scrub. If it is UV exposure it will not change just by doing that, if dirt then that should be enough to clean it and sort it out.

**kevinm** · 07-31-2010, 05:29 AM

Yes, it's not dirt as I did subsequently wash it...

Thanks for the suggestions re cleaning. Any experience with something like Flitz?

As legion suggests, maybe it's just its normal patina from handling, in which case I should leave it alone!

**bradyarz** · 07-31-2010, 05:43 AM

i agree that the discoloration is probably due to use. i'd say leave it, although if you want to even it out, it may be as simple as just rubbing the top portion around in your hands for a few minutes every time you use it.

**fidjit** · 07-31-2010, 05:45 AM

Since you've now washed it, give it a LIGHT polish with Flitz/Mass/Silvo.

DON'T even up the colour. It has taken years for those butterscotch colours to develop.

The multi tone oxidation is what makes it a true catalin butterscotch !!!

It just adds to the antiquieness and uniqueness of that butterscotch !!!

You ain't ever gonna get that sort of colour difference and change in a solid modern stable material.

Case in point, could have cut it back to match the base, get rid of that "crocodile" skin pantina on it but..............