One of my Mini Speeds shows discoloration on many of the metal bits; on closer inspection this is an age-toned lacquer coating. Why would they have coated these pieces? Were other models treated this way? I can get it off with denatured alcohol, but hesitate to remove the coating. It is of course only a cosmetic issue.

My guess is that the lacquer coating was applied for the same reason as brass door knockers and military insignia are lacquered, to retard corrosion. If you removed the discolored coating and polished the metal, perhaps you might consider applying a new finish -- or, as soldiers do, remove the lacquer and buff up the metal when it begins to tarnish.

That was actually a pretty common practice to coat metallic parts with different types of clear protection materials, I have a couple of large cameras from the 1880's that I striped and recoated and they have held up quite well for a number of years now.

Dave

there was a period of about 6-8 months where all the minis and Speed Graphics got this coating and it all turned an interesting color. Just before the wartime Speeds came out they got it corrected.

Les

I understand why bare metal such as brass on classic cameras was lacquered, but the puzzle to me here is that these parts are plated. I wonder why they bothered with the lacquer.

This particular Mini was made in about 1940, so it fits Les'prewar description. I suppose I will leave it alone; I was not looking forward to the effort involved in scrubbing it off anyway.

If memory serves me right, I believe it might have been the first few months of late '39 to mid '40. This would have been the time frame of the launch of the Annys and when the Mini got a few more pieces of chrome trim.

I've got three or 4 minis like that and I know at least one early Anny 4x5 that way too. No clue why they did it or why they stopped. Maybe it was turning faster than we think? Maybe it was cost.