Did I do ok buying these Flea Market items?

[Keith Willis]

Hello,its Hunter again.
My family and I went to a few flea markets today and we just got home.I have been saving my money
and was able to buy a few things.I don't know much about what I bought so maybe I did ok.

The first is my favorite it is a cash register I paid $50.00 not sure how old it is,but it all works perfect
the name on it is Burroughs

The second says it is a fire extinguisher it has a lot of writing on the front,it looks old
and I would like to know how old I paid $4.00 for it.Would it be ok to clean it up?

I have a few more things that I will ask about later on if that will be ok

[sapphire]

Hey Hunter! Looks like you're having fun    Can't really comment to much on your finds, but did want to say if you give that extinguisher a cleaning and start searching the maker you'll likely be able to nail down an approximate value.

Here's one site for restored extinguishers I found......if you're turns out anything like the one in the pic below I think you'll be well pleased with your find.  Pretty sure folks on here can give you some help with how best to clean it.

http://www.vintagefireextinguishers.com/

[Keith Willis]

Thanks sapphire.Dad said we needed to wait and see what advice
I got here,before cleaning anything.
Thanks,Hunter

[fancypants]

I like your cool fire item , Keith Willis .

Maybe the first thing to do is to get a magnent & see if the main body of it is brass , or plated steel .

If it's solid brass , you've got a polishing project (if you decide to) !

[sapphire]

I'm wondering if what you might have is a GENERAL Quick Aid ?

Just going by what I can make out of your label, the shape of the handle and these listings .....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GENERAL-QUICK-AID-BRASS-CHRIS-CRAFT-FIRE-EXTINGUISHER-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem58887ca6eeQQitemZ380246992622QQptZBoatQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGear#ht_500wt_956

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6805654

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/general-quick-aid-fire-extinguisher-extinguishers

[Keith Willis]

Keith here,

Thanks fancy,we tried the magnet,and it is brass.

Thanks sapphire,it is a General Quick Aid.It needs a lot of cleaning
but looks like He did ok,at $4.00.

What do we need to get,to clean it up?

God bless,Keith

[Keith Willis]

I think it is cleaning up fairly well.
I have not tried to clean the label up.
I think a Dremel may work better on it.

God bless,Keith

[sapphire]

Looking very nice!!! Before you head for the dremel how about trying a stiff toothbrush with baking soda/water paste.  Or if you have a container large enough to lay it label side down, a sheet of tin foil, water and/or vinegar and baking soda? Then maybe progress to a mildly abrasive (for pots/pans) scrubbing pad (not steel wool)......don't want to scrub it so hard the paint/enamel is rubbed off.

I'd say for $4 it's a mighty nice find. 

[sapphire]

General Fire Extinguisher, info page......

http://www.vintagefe.com/general.html

[sapphire]

And a bit from the same site on restoring 

http://www.vintagefe.com/restoration.html

[fancypants]

Congrats on your 'find' , Keith Willis !

I'd suggest you not use a dremel tool on your brass .

Unless you're attempting a restoration project , the simple (& 'dirty & cheap') method would be a good washing with dish detergent & then polishing .

Buy a small jug of 'Brasso' or similar brass polish product & just use lots of elbow grease .

Looking forward to seein' your shiny hand extinguisher !

[sapphire]

Think I found your Burroughs 

http://home.netcom.com/~hancockm/group_f.htm


Class 10 - Full keyboard style machines with features for bank teller and receipting functions

Date Range -- 1947-197x

Original Price -- $500

Today’s Value -- $75-$200

[sapphire]

Another helpful page from that site....

http://home.netcom.com/~hancockm/values.htm

[fancypants]

Kudos to sapphire for all the great work !

 

[Keith Willis]

WOW!! sapphire,many thanks.
We were all out of town yesterday,so I was excited to see
all the information that sapphire had found I know Hunter
will be excited when he wakes this morning.He has a few more
items that he wants to post,but I will have him put a little
more effort into research.
Thanks to all who replied,but a special thanks to sappire.
We still have a little more cleaning to do,but I think it has
turned out looking great for an ''at home'' cleanup,on a $4.00 item

God bless,Keith