The most-common type of wooden case for the Blickensderfer 5 typewriter is a plain wedge-shape carrying case with a leather handle. From pictures available online, these cases seem plain wood - or at least they look plain, unfinished wood.
This specimen looked fairly bad, but underneath the hinges a spot of original finish remained - looking almost as if it'd been lacquered. The exposed, weathered surfaces however didn't look as if they'd ever been lacquered. Adding that almost all cases seen online look unfinished - perhaps these cases were originally not lacquered but oiled wood.
Whatever it originally was, this one was first sanded down to remove all water-staining and mold-spots - down to bare wood and made smooth. At least, smooth to the touch, if not to the eye.
Where the case was coming apart, the cracks were glued and clamped - left for a day to fully set. In the meantime, the brass fittings were cleaned and given a polish.
Then linseed oil was applied and rubbed with a soft cloth. This really darkened the wood again and made the grain stand out. It then becomes noticable that the sides are made of single pieces of wood, split over top and lower half of the case.
The fittings mounted again and a new leather strap cut from 3.5 mm saddle-leather was fitted. The handle-brackets originally were nailed onto/into the wood, now instead fitted with screws.
Structurally fine, clean and still looking its 120 years.
The inside only cleaned lightly with a damp cloth - and the pencil scribbles on the screw-cap were removed (rubber eraser). The rubber machine buffers will be replaced when the machine is ready for a fitting - to ensure a snug fit.
The case is ready to hold a Blickensderfer 5 typewriter again! (being assembled...)
Excellent work!
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