  Willow Member Username: Willow Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2007 |
I am looking for information concerning the gate that was at the Mendelssohn estate at 1000 Lakeshore, Grosse Pointe Shores. This property was acquired by Bill Ford Sr around 1960 and it is reported that he donated the iron entrance gate to the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores. The gate has been used as a gate for the community lakeside park and is to be refurbished this winter. Any historical information about the design or designer would be helpful. If any pictures exist of the gate in place at the Mendelssohn Estate they would also help with the history | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 5218 Registered: 10-2003 |
Might have to try GP Historical or the Burton Collection. There was a poster on here named metaldoctor. He could tell you. Did Bill Ford tear down a home to build his own? | ||
Willow Member Username: Willow Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2007 |
Regarding the Bill Ford Sr house, I understand he razed the Mendelssohn house and put up his present home. His gates are wooden with brick walls along Lakeshore | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 727 Registered: 07-2007 |
PS What is the best way to rehab a rusty wrought iron gate with new paint? | ||
Prokopowicz Member Username: Prokopowicz Post Number: 24 Registered: 02-2005 |
Was this Mendelssohn family Jewish? I've always heard that in those days it was impossible for Jews to buy in Grosse Pointe. | ||
Willow Member Username: Willow Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2007 |
Regarding the Religious affiliation of the Mendelssohns, when she died her obituary reported that she was buried out of St Joan of Arc in St Clair Shores. Regarding the rehab process , I cannot help with a professional opinion, but as a homeownwer I never painted any metal unless it was clean of rust down to bare metal. I am still hoping for some historical information about the gate or estate | ||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 343 Registered: 01-2007 |
Rusty wrought iron... yes. you need to get to bare metal. There is a jelly substance whose name escapes me now... naval jelly?... that stops the rust. Anyway. Once the rust is stopped you need primer & paint. Rust-o-leum or similar is fine. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 3998 Registered: 12-2005 |
I see naval jelly is phosphoric acid. Would that be a problem with restoration work? There's also cosmoline. | ||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 344 Registered: 01-2007 |
Do you drink Coca-Cola? It's the 5th ingredient listed! A neighbor of mine restores old gas pumps (the kind with the glass tanks on top) using a wire brush wheel. When he finishes a piece, it gets primed. Cosmoline is primarily used to preserve old surplus battle rifles. That gooey grease goes everywhere. To sweat it out of wood, etc., put a 100-w bulb in a metal trash can and hope for warmer weather! | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 3999 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote:Well, then that explains why I'm so rust free!  I'd really like to see Metaldoctor chime in on this. | ||
Willow Member Username: Willow Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2007 |
If someone could ask "Dream" to input to the history aspect, that is my original question regarding the history of the gate and estate | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 672 Registered: 02-2007 |
What is the best way to rehab a rusty wrought iron gate with new paint? Sandblasting |
