a few questions about my HJ Scheirich cabinet

[ncroll]

Hi,
   I just purchased an HJ Scheirich cabinet, and am thrilled about restoring it! However, I have a couple questions I haven't been able to find answers to.
   I'd like to find a picture of the original design on the glass doors, so that eventually, that can be repainted. Also, this cabinet has a wood top, not a porcelain one. Could this have been original? The Scheirich label is on the bottom, and the number 736 is stamped on the back, but the those are the only identifying markers.
   I think the handles are bakelite plastic, but they have all been painted over about 4 times. What's the best way to remove paint from bakelite?
   Lastly, I think the brackets for the top and bottom attachment are not original, and we'd like to get new ones. They're very small and cheap, and certainly don't allow for the countertop to slide out. Could we replace them with hoosier brand brackets?
Thank you to any and all who can help with this!

[mart]

Good project restoring your cabinet !! Most of the designs on the glass were decals rather than hand painting !! Have you taken a single edge razor and slid it around the edge of whats left to see ??  Paint you can feel on the surface, decals would be flat on the glass !!  For the pulls,, first take them all off and put in a small bucket with a bit of dish soap, then add faucet temp hot water and let them sit in it several hours, adding hot water as the other cools enough to keep warm !!  After a few hours check the pulls and see if the paint is lifting !! If it does it should come off easily with maybe a Teflon scrubbie, no metal, just the kind you use for Teflon skillets !!  If it isn`t lifting off, then its oil paint and will have to be removed with a commercial stripper !!
I see no reason you couldn`t use any of the brackets that are the same as the ones it has now !! As long as they are the same style, they should work !!

[greenacres]

mart, remember jacon4 had a video of a similar restoration. It was a while ago.

[wendy177]

I would not use a commercial stripper on bakelite, if it will not come off with marts hot water method I would find a craftsmen who could GENTLY  sand off the paint & buff and re-polish your bakelite. Many jewelry artist will remake bakelite into new pieces by drilling adding stones & re-buffing an old piece.

[mart]

Some of the strippers today are much more gentle and less caustic than others!!  Might try a spot on the back to make sure before doing all !!

[ncroll]

thanks, everyone! It is definitely paint, not a decal, as I can scratch it off the glass with my fingernail if I'm not careful.
I will try the soap and water method for the handles. 
My main question is still the top--anyone know if the wood countertop could be original? Should I look for porcelain to replace it?

[KC]

I would be extra cautious with the Bakelite!  Once ruined you won't be able to replace it!!

[mart]

Since these were originally called(bakers cabinets) as I learned recently,,I think it could be an original wood top !! How does it look to you ??  We cannot see it as well as you can !! If it has metal trim and all fits and looks correct,,I would leave it alone !!   Can you take a closeup pic of the glass with the paint showing ?? Just because you can scratch it off would not mean that it is paint !! Decals age and dry and will do the same thing !!  If it is paint it would have been done with a stencil of some type and baked on !!