Refinishing Vintage Kitchen Scales

I brought these old kitchen scales to my house from Daddy's trailer. I remember them being in the family for years and years. They were in really bad shape. It looks bad in this picture, but it was in worse shape than the picture shows. The bottom was completely covered with rust, and you couldn't see any of the paint. I think anyone else would have just thrown them away.

I talked my son into taking it apart and refinishing it.

Underneath the face of the scales, a secret was revealed. It was made in 1949. My parents were married in 1947.

Andrew put on a mask and sanded it down to bare metal. He is a perfectionist, I would have just got out some sand paper and sanded it a little and painted over it. Believe me, It wouldn't have looked very good.
We couldn't do anything to the face of it. So it will remain as is to let everyone know what a hard life if has lived.

It took a few days to let the primer and paint dry. It was hard to put back together. Pieces just didn't want to go where they were supposed to go. But our project is now finished. 

I just love it. The red really makes it pop! And, it works perfect.