Trying to get some ideas?? My Mom has these albums which my Dad got when he was in the Navy? Really not sure when? Might be when he served in WWII after he got back? So the time line is somewhere around there.

She wants me to try and fix these photo albums and I'm not really sure how to fix and still maintain the album without drilling holes or just messing it up. 

The Hinges are just the type that you hammer into place. Some of the prongs are missing and the hole are out of shape that you just can't pound them back in.

Any Ideas??

 

 

 

 

I should had taken a picture of the whole thing. The album Says Remember Pearl Harbor and the other one has a picture on the front. The holes that are in the wood is for string to hold the picture pages and the back into place.

Doesn't have to be complete restore. She is just wanting the hinges fixed.

I guess you could replace the hinges with screw type. You'd probably want to fill any previous holes that weren't covered by the new hinges or were at the same location as where the screws would be. Similar colored epoxy or CA with sawdust might work for the filler.

 

Epoxy might even hold these hinges. I recently saw a commercial for some new variations from J-B Weld. If there new products hold as well as there original stuff, that might work, too.

What Lew said. However it gets done, that album really needs saving. What memories it must hold. 

Just did a mini hope chest repair for the wife. It had the exact same hinges.

I had previously tried to straighten the prongs on the original hinges. That lasted about 2 months with minimal openings. Hinges pulled out so went to plan B.

Got mini hinges from the craft store with screws. Before you try the supplied hinge screws get a couple of steel screws to run in the wood so you can avoid breaking and/or striping off the head of the screw.

 

Good suggestion Smitty. Lube on the screws help, too. 

i haven't found a lot of pronged hinges, but this might work....  SIZE:22*18 mm

 

http://www.metalcraftmanufacturer.com/products_info/Metal-Pronged-Hinges-313038.html

 

Larry,

If you want to keep the same look just get some #2 X 3/8" brass screws. (1/4" if the album wall thickness won't accommodate going 3/8")

Drill two holes in each hinge section between the prongs, and hinge.(Make these holes 1/16" diameter)

Predrill holes in the box for the screws using the holes you drilled in the hinges as a template. (Don't go all the way through)

Now enlarge the holes in the hinges too 7/64" (Clearance size for #2 screws)

Rub some bar hand soap on the screws to lube the threads, and attach the original hinges using the screws.

 

No need to fill the old hinge holes because you'll still be using the original hinges! 

If there is room with the lid open you could put a flat head screw in the courners that appear to be on each hinge.  No drilling the hinge that way.

Hobby Lobby has some very small screws that a person could get and counter sink some holes and it can end up like it should have looked long ago. No need to change hinges...

Thank you for some great ideas!!

I just might have to put some screws in the hinges or get new ones. First I should get it and fill in the holes. 

I'll be checking Hobby Lobby out for some screws. I'm just thinking if I put some pronged hinges back on it's just going to end up doing the same thing it is now.

I'm glad I came here for some ideas!! You all have given me something to work on. It'll be about a month before I can start working on it.

This is my go to for almost all my screws.  High quality and they work, most times without coating them with wax.  Yes, i keep a can of Johnson or Minwax paste wax to rub nails and screws to keep the wood from splitting open.  

 

https://www.mcfeelys.com/screw-fastener-web-store/shop-screws-by-application.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl6LoBRDqARIsABllMSYXzJLAeYVTM2IAL2llWGjTd_IWDvDk1yMbkiAbD6ohV3DIG9mI47saAs5lEALw_wcB

Might try the "heavy duty" double sided carpet tape (Ace Hardware here).