Trophy & Sports Memorabilia Restoration
We restore trophy cups and sporting medals while preserving engravings and historical significance.
We restore silver trophy cups, presentation shields, medals, and sporting awards that have been damaged, tarnished, or worn over time. Whether it's a family trophy passed down through generations, a school cup that's seen decades of use, or a club's perpetual trophy needing repair, we handle each piece with the understanding that these items hold memories. Our restoration includes removing dents, repairing broken handles and bases, re-plating worn silver, polishing, and protecting engravings that tell the story of past winners. The Stevenson family has restored trophies and sporting awards since 1962, working for schools, sports clubs, families, and collectors across London and the UK.
Why Sports Clubs and Families Trust Us
Trophy restoration requires both metalworking skill and respect for what these pieces represent. We've restored everything from small school cups to large perpetual trophies that have been awarded for decades.
Over 60 years restoring trophies and sporting awards
We repair dents, broken handles, damaged bases, and worn plating
Careful handling of existing engravings and winner inscriptions
Re-plating that brings back the shine without losing character
Experience with silver, silver plate, brass, and nickel trophies
Work for schools, sports clubs, families, and private collectors
Clear pricing and honest advice on what can be repaired
How We Restore Trophies
Trophy restoration depends on the damage and what needs fixing. Some pieces just need cleaning and polishing. Others need metalwork, re-plating, and structural repair. Here's our approach.
Assess the Damage
We check for dents, bent sections, broken handles, worn plating, damaged bases, and any structural issues. This tells us what needs repairing and the best approach.
Protect the Engravings
Engravings matter. They record winners, dates, and history. We work carefully around inscriptions to preserve them during cleaning, polishing, and plating.
Remove Dents and Straighten
Dented cups get carefully worked back into shape. Bent stems, twisted handles, and misshapen bases are straightened so the trophy stands properly again.
Repair Broken Parts
Broken handles, detached bases, loose fittings, and damaged components get repaired using proper metalworking techniques. The goal is strong, lasting repairs.
Clean and Polish
Years of tarnish, dirt, and oxidation get removed. The trophy is polished to bring back the shine and prepare it for re-plating if needed.
Re-Plate if Worn
When the silver plating has worn through to base metal, we strip the old plating and apply fresh silver. This restores appearance and protects the metal underneath.
Final Finish
The restored trophy gets a final polish and protective finish. It leaves looking ready to be presented again or displayed proudly.
Most trophy restoration takes 2 to 3 weeks. Complex repairs or heavily damaged pieces take longer.
Types of Trophies and Awards We Work On
We restore all kinds of sporting trophies, presentation pieces, and awards. If it's metal and holds meaning, we can help bring it back.
Trophy Cups Silver cups, loving cups, two-handled cups, three-handled cups, presentation cups, challenge cups, competition trophies, and championship cups.
Perpetual Trophies Trophies awarded annually with multiple winner plaques, club trophies passed between winners, shields with yearly engravings, and cups with decades of inscriptions.
Sports Medals and Shields Sporting medals, presentation shields, salvers, commemorative plaques, winners' shields, and team awards.
School and Club Awards School sports trophies, house competition cups, sports day awards, inter-school trophies, and annual club prizes.
Personal and Family Trophies Inherited sporting awards, family competition cups, grandfather's trophies, vintage sporting memorabilia, and personal achievement awards.
Materials We Work With Silver plate trophies, sterling silver cups, brass awards, nickel plate trophies, and mixed metal presentation pieces.
Who Uses Our Trophy Restoration Service
Schools, sports clubs, families, and collectors bring us trophies that need repair or restoration. Each piece carries its own story and importance.
Schools and Colleges Restoring annual sports trophies, house competition cups, and awards that have been presented for decades.
Sports Clubs Club championship trophies, perpetual cups, team awards, and competition shields that need bringing back for continued use.
Families Inherited trophies from parents or grandparents, family sporting achievements, and personal awards with sentimental value.
Private Collectors Vintage sporting memorabilia, historic competition trophies, and collectable sporting awards.
Anyone with Damaged Trophies That are dented, tarnished, broken, or worn. We help customers across London and the UK restore pieces properly.
What Does Trophy Restoration Cost
Pricing depends on the size, damage, material, and work needed. A cup needing just cleaning and polishing costs less than one with dents, broken handles, and worn plating.
Send clear photos showing all sides of the trophy, any damage, dents, broken parts, and the current condition of the plating. Let us know the approximate size. We'll give you a quote based on what needs doing.
Most trophy work takes 2 to 3 weeks. Complex repairs or full restoration of large perpetual trophies may take longer. We'll confirm timings when we quote.
Sending Trophies to Us
Sports clubs and families across the UK send us trophies safely. Here's how to pack and post them properly.
Pack Carefully Wrap the trophy in bubble wrap, paying extra attention to handles, finials, and any protruding parts. Use a strong box with plenty of padding. Secure everything so nothing moves during transit.
Insure Properly Use tracked delivery with insurance based on the trophy's value (replacement or sentimental). Royal Mail Special Delivery or a courier works well.
Include Information Put your name, phone, email, and return address inside the box. If you know the trophy's history or when it was originally awarded, include that too.
What Happens We confirm receipt immediately. You'll get an assessment and quote. Updates during restoration. Secure return delivery when finished.
Our Address Stevenson Platers 34 Woodgrange Avenue Harrow London HA3 0XD
Questions About Trophy Restoration
Here are the questions schools, clubs, and families ask us most often about restoring trophies and sporting awards.
Can you restore badly dented trophy cups?
Yes. Most dents can be removed or significantly improved through careful metalworking. Very deep dents on thin silver plate sometimes leave slight marks, but the overall shape and appearance can be restored. We work the metal gently to avoid thinning or tearing the plating.
Will trophy restoration damage or remove existing engravings?
No. We work carefully around all engravings, inscriptions, and winner plaques. Preserving the history engraved on trophies is part of the restoration. Names, dates, and awards stay intact throughout cleaning, polishing, and plating.
Can you repair broken trophy handles or detached bases?
Yes. Broken handles, detached bases, loose stems, and separated components can be repaired. We use proper metalworking techniques to create strong, lasting repairs. The goal is to make the trophy structurally sound so it can be presented and displayed safely again.
How do you restore trophies that are very old or fragile?
Old trophies often have thin plating and delicate construction. We handle them carefully, using gentler techniques and taking more time. The goal is to improve appearance and stability without causing further damage. We'll let you know if a trophy is too fragile for certain types of restoration.
Can perpetual trophies with decades of engravings be restored?
Yes. Perpetual trophies with years of winner plaques and inscriptions can be cleaned, polished, re-plated, and repaired while keeping all the existing engravings intact. These trophies often need careful handling due to their size and the amount of engraved history they carry.
What if the silver plating has completely worn off?
We strip any remaining old plating, prepare the base metal properly, and apply fresh silver plate. This restores the appearance and protects the metal. Re-plating is common for trophies that have been presented annually for many years and handled frequently.
Can you restore trophies that have been stored badly?
Yes. Trophies stored in damp sheds, attics, or left forgotten develop heavy tarnish and sometimes corrosion. Most of this can be cleaned and restored. Send photos and we'll assess what's possible. Even badly neglected trophies often come back surprisingly well.
Do you work on medals and presentation shields as well as cups?
Yes. We restore sporting medals, presentation shields, salvers, commemorative plaques, and all types of sporting awards. The techniques are similar. Cleaning, polishing, re-plating, and preserving engravings apply to all metal sporting memorabilia.
Can I drop trophies off in person?
Yes. We're in Harrow, London. Bringing trophies directly works well, especially for large perpetual trophies or pieces with sentimental value. We can assess them in person and discuss the restoration approach. Call 07391 007 123 first to arrange a time.
How much does it cost to restore a school sports trophy?
It depends on the size and condition. Small cups needing basic cleaning and polishing start lower. Larger trophies with dents, broken parts, and worn plating cost more due to the extra work involved. Send photos and we'll give you a clear price before starting.
Get Your Free Quote
Send photos of your trophy from all angles, showing any damage, dents, broken parts, and the condition of the plating. Let us know the approximate size and any history if you know it.
Trophy Restoration Across London and the UK
We've restored sporting trophies, school cups, club awards, and family memorabilia for customers across London and the UK since 1962. Based in Harrow, we're here to help bring trophies back so they can continue being presented, displayed, and treasured. Visit us or send items by post with insurance.
Pricing depends on the size, damage, material, and work needed. A cup needing just cleaning and polishing costs less than one with dents, broken handles, and worn plating.