If you’re looking for a truly unique frame, you should visit the Los Angeles showroom of RetroSpecs & Co. The company specializes in restoring vintage eyeglass frames and maintains a huge archive of original 20th century frame designs. At its showroom on Robertson Blvd., one piece of each gold-filled design collected by the company is on display. Their archive contains over 8,000 original designs by 150 different manufacturers.
Restoration of gold-filled frames
If you are interested in restoring vintage eyeglass frame, then you should visit the Los Angeles-based restoration company RetroSpecs & Co. This company has a huge archive of frames from the 20th century and an impressive showroom. The showroom features one piece of every gold-filled design that has ever been collected. The archives contain more than 8,000 original designs from more than 150 different manufacturers.
Each frame goes through a rigorous restoration process. First, the frames are ultrasonically cleaned overnight. Then the parts are disassembled and inspected to determine what to do next. The restoration company has designed and developed specialized machines for this process. The machines are able to restore gold-filled frames to the highest degree of gloss and shine.
Gold-filled specs frames can be expensive and require a lot of work. Over time, wear and tear can deplete the gold content. Some of them retain the full amount of gold, while others are rubbed off a lot. The metal gold is worth around $1284 per ounce, but it hit a high of $1895 an ounce in 2011.
Older eyeglass frames may have numbers stamped on the temple pieces. These numbers indicate the gold content of the frame, and it should be easy to determine if a particular frame is gold-filled. Alternatively, a gold-plated frame will contain a thin layer of gold.
Restoration process
To restore a specs golden frame, the first step is to clean it using ultrasonic cleansing. Then, each frame will go through various restoration processes, including milling and soldering. These processes are used to recreate the frame’s original shape. Once this process is completed, the frame will be placed into barrels from the Bausch & Lomb RayBan factory. These barrels are filled with walnut shells, and tumbled for several days.
The gilded surface of the frame is very resilient to changes in humidity, but the wood and gesso are more susceptible to these fluctuations. Humidity fluctuations can cause wood to expand or contract, which can lead to warping, cracking, and other problems. Wooden objects are typically best kept in a relative humidity range of 40-60%. High humidity can damage frames, so keep them away from windows and air conditioning.
Before choosing a conservation expert, it is important to get references. This will allow you to compare the services offered by different conservators. It is also helpful to talk to past clients. Ideally, they’ll have done a similar project to yours. This will give you a clearer idea of what your restoration process will entail.
Registration number
The prices of gold are volatile. So, it is important to know the exact value of the frames you are about to buy. Then, you can account for the price of the frame when it arrives in the mail. Jay’s gold-filled frames are sold in Aspen and Vail during the week between Christmas and New Years. Each frame undergoes an extensive restoration process. The process begins with an overnight ultrasonic cleanse. Parts of the frame are then sorted and examined to determine the next step in the process. The company uses custom-made machines and research to make this restoration possible.