Cast iron pointer door stop

I just bought a cast iron pointer (dog) door stop.

Its been repainted white, which is flaking off in thick chunks (lead paint?)
The original paint underneath is still intact.
Much more detail is coming through the more the paint is removed.

Anyways..
I dont see any markings, which could be hidden under the thick paint..
What's the best way to remove the outer layer without removing/ harming the original paint?

These do have Phillips head screws, but they don't look like they "fit" the holes..
Had anyone seen true antique door stops with the screws swapped out?

 

I have trouble bending that far over......

 

Le sigh, I sympathise for I am short and can not stretch

 

I weighed him, 8.49 lbs
Measures about 15.5" x 8.5 "

 

We can't do diddly without pictures.

 

Only one I've got so far

 

'tis a setter not a pointer.

 

You are right

 

These have been widely reproduced. Next thing to check after the screws is how well the two halves meet. Originals have a much tighter join than repros.

 

I can see a fairly wide seam on his chest so I'm thinking repro, too.

 

Repro. Seam much too wide plus the Phillips screws.

 

But if you still want to have a go at it, I personally would try (GENTLY!!) a DRY, like floor scrub brush, with a very light hand!!! That paint looks so flaky it's sure to take some more off........but be ever so GENTLE!!!! That's MY two cents worth.....others may scream at my suggestion though!!! And if you don't like what's happening, then obviously.....STOP immediately.....and slap my comment upside down!!

 

They meet pretty well
Just as well of a video i saw someone filming some authentic hubley boston terrier..
The dog feels smooth underneath the newer paint

Here's one with a sticker with a same size seam
http://www.dakotapaul.com/items/showitem.asp?iid=3350

From what I can tell they started making these in the 30s or 40s so Phillips bread would be correct?

 

I finally got my phone to hold a decent charge to upload pictures

Top of back


Under the tail


Under belly

 

Here is a link saying hubley sold these in 1940 ($15 a dozen!)
http://www.doorstops.com/1dogs_h.html

Would Phillips heads be used on these?

 

Hi,
They may be replacement screws. That seam appears to be really tight like the originals.
greg

 

I thought maybe too

Now if I can just figure out how to remove the outer paint
Even (the softer) wire brushes isn't getting it

I wonder if dabbing mineral spirits on the a areas with a qtip will help soften the top layer enough to remove

 

Get paste-type paint stripper and follow instructions, unless you can spend many hours scraping, inhaling possibly lead-bearing paint dust, etc. But of course that's going to remove all the paint. If it were mine, first thing I'd do would be to remove the screws and look inside. That thing would be a perfect place to hide gold coins, which may be related to replacing screws if in fact they are replacements. They'd pad it inside so the coins wouldn't move around and make noise. I can disassemble it very carefully and check for those coins if you just send it to me!

 

Hahahaa I thought the SAME thing about the screws, just cash money instead of coins

 

Sounds like a mid-century reproduction. The originals were not only smoother, but they frequently pasted over the screw heads so you couldn't see them, to enhance the look. A good reproduction might be $50, a good original might be $200. I've seen both at auctions within the past month.