Something new may be stronger, lighter, easier to apply, or less hazardous than a traditional material. If used in an inconspicuous place, the newer material will not detract from the visual character of the house. The topic for this case study is the newel post light fixture in the front hall of our 1877 Stick-Style Victorian. This fixture is now electric, but was once a gas fixture. Like many ornamental lighting pieces from the 1870's, it is made from pot metal and painted with a decorative finish to imitate bronze.
Pot metal is an alloy that is inexpensive and easily cast into complex shapes.
One disadvantage of pot metal is that it isn't very strong. Our light fixture is held to the top of the newel post by three wood screws. Over the years, the stress on the metal around the screw holes has resulted in cracks radiating away from the holes. When I found these cracks, I became concerned that the next time someone came down the stairs and held onto the fixture while rounding the corner, the stress would cause the screws to pull through the fixture, bending the metal and making a repair difficult. My job, then, was to find a way to strengthen the metal around the screw holes so that the cracks wouldn't get any bigger.