Deagan Model 21 Chime Restoration - Brought Back From The Brink


I received an e-mail from a lady in California who had been trying to find someone to restore a Deagan Chime that belonged to her grandfather. She explained that it was in bad shape and needed to be brought back to its former glory. She had tried a number of people in her area with experience in woodworking and antiques but none were willing to take on the challenge.

I asked her to send me some photos of the chime from all angles so that I might see the condition of the chime. Here are the photos she sent to me. I have to admit, I was not sure I could do anything to rescue this one. It had been exposed to the elements for years, rain, sun, wind, dust, insects, heat and cold. It was a mess but all of the parts were there.

Her grandfather worked for the railroad and this chime was used to alert passengers that the dining car was open and serving. When he retired from the railroad the chime came with him and eventually ended up in the hands of his granddaughter. She kept it for over a decade in the condition you see below and then she came across my website and decided to see if I could restore it.

The plates were rusted and the wood laminates were splitting and peeling off. All of the original hardware seemed to be there. It was a bit scary to take on a restoration like this because I had never attempted to do a restoration on a chime that was so far gone.

She and I agreed upon a price for the restoration. I knew that a significant amount of time and work would be required to save this old chime. The chime was shipped to me via UPS and upon its arrival I was shocked at the physical size of the chime. It was the largest Degan Chime I had ever seen. It was about 12 x 12 and 2 inches in depth. It was heavy. The plates were the largest and heaviest I had ever seen as well.

Below are photos of the chime in various stages of disassembly and restoration. It took about two and half weeks but I had great satisfaction seeing the old chime return to working order and its former beauty. The restoration was not perfect in that I could not re-plate the metal parts but the end result was pleasing to the eye and the ear.

Out Of The UPS Box

Fresh out of the UPS Box... big and heavy with lots of water/weather damage.

The top of the resonator box had peeled and weathered away over the years. It would have to be replaced.

The Deagan label on the back had a bit of damage as well. It would prove to be very difficult to remove. Note F38 in the upper left corner. That would be a clue to the model of this chime which turned out to be one of Deagan's top of the line chimes... the Model 21.

More damage that would have to be repaired.

I was never able to find out what DCRIS stood for. Sadly, I was not able to save this brand during the restoration process.

I doubt this was the original mallet that came with the chime but it was used for years and years. Made of Oak.. I salvaged it as best I could and made a new mallet with felt to give a warmer sound to the chime's tones when struck.

The Restoration Begins

All of the hardware was removed.

I had seen these small posts used on other Deagan Chimes but never had I seen the large screws/bolts that held the plates in place.

A very rusty mess to deal with. I would later remove the rust but having the plates re-plated with nickel would have cost close to $150 and might have affected the tone of the plates. I decided to remove the rust and polish what I could.

The top of the resonator box was shot. I had to fabricate a new one using the old one as a template. I returned the old top to the owner so she could compare the old and new.

Water damage everywhere on the chime but I was able to keep everything original except the top.

After years of being outside the resonator cavities were full of mud-dobber and wasp nests. The hardest part of this restoration was separating the top from the resonator. It took a lot of time to pry it off without causing any internal damage. The old glue still held a very tough grip that was hard to break but after about an hour of delicate prying the two sections apart I was ready to go to work on the inside of the chambers..

The new top all ready to go.

The new top was sanded and glued to the resonator chamber. I kept it clamped for a full day and the result turned out perfect.

Mahogany stain applied and the supporting hardware installed.

These post are made of copper. The original finish was more than likely nickel plated.

The plates with the rust removed and polished with very fine steel wool.

Almost done.. just a few more spots to touch up.

The chimes originally had some sort of tubing that surrounded the posts that hold the plates to keep metal to metal contact from occurring. I found some tubing at Home Depot that worked just fine for this bit of finish.

Project finished. I hated to send it back.

One final photo of the Deagan #21 Chime on my dining table. The next day it was off to the UPS Store to be shipped back to the owner. What a fun project. I wish I could have re-plated all the hardware but the cost was prohibitive. All of the plates rang true but one. Apparently it left the Deagan factory with a slight tuning issue back in the late 1930s. It still sounds great and looks much as it did when it was purchased for $12. Here is a link to more information about this chime.

And from the owner of the chime...the icing on the cake..... Hi Jim You tell a captivating tale - even though I know how the story ends. What an amazing talent you have, as well as a genuine appreciation for the history of these chimes My husband and I delight in re-telling the story of your restoration to our sons, my siblings who have visited from Reno and all our friends. The chime is prominently displayed on the entertainment unit in our family room. I have printed out our email exchanges, and now I will print this record for all to read. You remain a hero to me. Thank you for reviving such a significant memory of my childhood and the young years of our sons who would swing under my parents' carport alongside the weathered chime. My best to you. Thank you for this gift I remain ever grateful.