Restoring/finishing turned chairs

[snowyskiesau]

A friend has a number of chairs that need repairing (restore is stretching it a bit). I have a couple on loan on the understanding that I'll repair the broken bits and pieces on them (they've done a lot of travelling)
While they are all to the same basic design, there are minor differences as they were made by different people.
So far, I haven't found any that need new bits turned up, just some loose joints and a couple of cracked pieces so I'm confident that I can repair them OK. WHat I need advise about is finishing. I don';t know what the timber is, for the most part it's fairly light with the colour coming from a stain. Some examples are gloss finish, others are matt and some seem to have no finish at all.
Given they're not antiques. what approach should I take to clean them up prior to refinishing and what finish would suit them best?
More detailed pictures if it will help.

[rogerjenkins]

Can you please kindly add some more detailed photos,- even take several of the underside of one of the chairs, then may be able to figure out what type of timber they are made from.
Although they look like another Imported version of the fairly common, Colonial Type Kitchen Chairs, which were quite popular from the late 1960's up to present day, and quite often made in Maylasia from Ramin which is a hard, whitish / pale creamy coloured, vey fine grained Maylasian hardwood, which one can stain quite easily using any quality wood stain, ( if required ), and seal with whatever type of timber finish you wish to use.
Roger

[snowyskiesau]

Roger,
Extra photos attached.
2 are of the base and one hole in the base, the others show the spokes as removed from the base.

[rogerjenkins]

Thanks for the additional photos. Judging by the varnish finish in the photos, it is some brand of fairly modern Varnish-Stain,- therefore most probably someone else sometime in the recent past has had a go at,( either ), refinishing the chairs, or maybe restoring them, ( or should say, " Their version of restoring them. " )

** Would you be able to take some close-ups of a Chair that has the surface worn nearly bare, then I should be able to a bit more accurately figure what type of timber you have, plus assist you with Restoration ideas, and how to go about it, etc.
Personally I find the subject of restoration absolutely fascinating as one never actually knows what hidden treasures lie under the surface coating of whatever one is restoring. Also those who take their time, and do a good job, have the satisfaction of showing their skill/s to their neighbours / friends, etc,- which quite often leads one onto greater challenges.

'ave a good day mate,
see ya soon on this forum,
Roger

[snowyskiesau]

I just spoke to the owner of the chairs and she referred to them as 'scottish windsor dining chairs'. Apparently made under license to a single design, some were bought in Australia, others in the UK.
I'm awaiting her reply as to whether she wants them 'restored' i.e. strip back and refinish, or just 'repaired' i.e. glue the broken back and/or legs.

As I mentioned, she has a lot more so I might get them all so the differences can be displayed.

EDIT: Pretty much as stated above, age of the chairs varies but all were made under license to single design. Some of the chairs have the brand 'Ibex', others are unbranded. A closer look at the two chairs I have shows that one is a light coloured wood as per the photos, the other is very dark. The design didn't specify what wood was to be used so it appears to be whatever's on hand! A search of 'windosor chairs ibex' turns up quite a bit of info. A coupe of the chairs are basket cases needing some new bits turned, others have been coated with some clear gloss finish which is now where near as attractive as the couple that are just oiled (I think it's oil)

[snowyskiesau]

The one good chair I had is now broken.

I had a friend over for dinner on Saturday and she did this.
I can't really complain seeing the chairs are hers. :)

This particular chair looked to be really solid and only in need of a good clean and perhaps refinish. Now that one leg is broken, I can see that the others at least need re-gluing..

[wheelinround]

Just need a lathe well ok a wood lathe Geoff have you go access to one at the Club?

I wouldn't glue if they broke that easy possibly make a new piece with a tenon and insert into old legor whole new leg.