MarkMin

Doh!!
The bits that are yellowy gold are made out of brass!!
The bit that's reddy gold is made out of Re-O-Loy!! (why was it called that?)
I get it now: the bits that are silver are made out of nickel!!
Then they're all lacquered!!

Have I got this right??

How dumb can I get? Ans: pretty d&%n dumb!

A.N.A. Mendez

You got it!

__________________
(Above) Alexanders ragtime band-circa 1960

"Baby, I'm already the coolest, and the hippist, now you want me to be on time too?" Buddy Love

"We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and our best generals to edit our newspapers." Robert E. Lee

nieuwguyski

There is no such thing as nickel-silver plating. There is nickel plating, and there is solid nickel silver. Nickel plating is fairly rare on the exterior of trumpets, though somewhat common on valves. All the nickel-colored pieces on the Recording are solid nickel silver, including the balusters on the two-piece valve casings.

__________________
John N. Nieuwguyski

ComeBackKid

First, if it is as nice as you make it sound, you would be advised to leave the existing lacquer alone as much as possible. There are ways to clean up the exposed brass and then carefully apply some urethane on the exposed areas to keep those areas from tarnishing while not disturbing the rest of the lacquer. But, to answer the rest of your questions. The bath with aluminum foil will not harm the nickel plating (or nickel-silver parts) at all. I have done it on several tri-color specials and Supers, not to mention quite a few Ambassadors and other brands and have not yet had any problem with that. The real problem is the tarnish and/or scratching that has already occurred on the exposed areas of nickel. The bath will not remove that. Nickel is much harder than brass and is not easy to polish. It will take more effort and skill than most of us have at home to bring the brightness back to the nickel. If you decide that you want those areas addressed, it is a job for professionals. However, on all of the horns that I have done so far, I was able to get at least enough shine back in the nickel that it provides that 'highlight' effect to the looks of the horn. But, it sounds like that is down the road a ways for you, anyway.

__________________
Come-Back Kid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Selmer Invicta London (1956)
Olds Super (1951, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)
Olds SuperStar (1971)
Olds Studio (1970)
Olds Special (1951, 1956, 1960, 1962)
Olds Ambassador (a few: 1953-1979)
Andreas Eastman (new)
(+Conn Director, King Cleveland, Holton Collegiate,
Blessing Accord, York, Yamaha, Getzen, Amati, Revelle, Bundy, Alcazar)

MarkMin

Ok.
Now ... where there is wear and scratching on the solid nickel bits ... can these be repaired/made like new?

On the third valve slide, where my finger crosses over it to reach the third valve trigger, the nickel is wearing away ... it looks like the contour lines of a valley on a map.

On the right hand side of the valve ballusters, there are scratches ...

Can Melk et al. fix these?

If I could work out how to post a picture I would show you.

best.

ComeBackKid

Here is a link to another thread on this forum that has step-by-step instructions on how to post photos (look at post #5 in the thread).
http://www.trumpetmaster.com/vb/f140...pet-48727.html (Boston Trumpet)
After you have some photos of the affected areas, it will be easier to assess what sort of treatment may be possible to repair some of it. But, if there are grooves in the nickel, someone must have hands like sandpaper. It is not easy to do that.

__________________
Come-Back Kid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Selmer Invicta London (1956)
Olds Super (1951, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)
Olds SuperStar (1971)
Olds Studio (1970)
Olds Special (1951, 1956, 1960, 1962)
Olds Ambassador (a few: 1953-1979)
Andreas Eastman (new)
(+Conn Director, King Cleveland, Holton Collegiate,
Blessing Accord, York, Yamaha, Getzen, Amati, Revelle, Bundy, Alcazar)

jbkirby

For what it's worth, my Olds Recording is presently being refinished by David Williams (Brassmaster.com) in nearby Tallahassee, Florida. Despite the arguments for raw brass vs original lacquer vs new lacquer, I decided (after receiving great feedback in this forum) a good lacquer job is important in order to protect the alloys in the horn for the long run. I polished the exposed nickel, brass, and Rey-O-Loy (red brass, 90% copper, 10% nickel), but the remaining lacquer was too far gone. I anticipate a change in sound, however, I am not a professional, just a hobbyist who enjoys playing. I also anticipate getting back a beautiful horn that will look almost like new and will be a joy to play for many years to come.

__________________
JBKIRBY

1913 Conn Circus Bore Cornet
1967 Olds Ambassador Bb Trumpet
1972 Olds Pinto Bb Trumpet (Weird Horn!)
1973 Olds Recording Bb Trumpet
1965 Conn Director Bb Trumpet
1970 Conn 6D Double French Horn
Jean Baptiste El Cheapo-Sticko-Valve-O Pocket Trumpet

A.N.A. Mendez

you will not be able to tell any difference......

__________________
(Above) Alexanders ragtime band-circa 1960

"Baby, I'm already the coolest, and the hippist, now you want me to be on time too?" Buddy Love

"We appointed all our worst generals to command our armies, and our best generals to edit our newspapers." Robert E. Lee

VetPsychWars

He's right, you won't. After having it gone for even a day, you're just not capable of remembering that much detail.

The new epoxy lacquers look pretty nice and acid hand sweat won't eat it at all, unlike nitrocellulose.

Tom

__________________


1949 Buescher 400 Trumpet
1939, 1946 Buescher Aristocrat Trumpets
1955 Buescher 400 Cornet
Meeuwsen custom 5C-ish mouthpiece
Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band

jbkirby

Thanks for this information! Tom, in the interim, I have been playing a 1965 Conn Director Bb I purchased in a flea market for 18 bucks (the best investment I ever made). Cosmetically, it is sad, but the valves are perfect. It had no case, but it did have a Bach 6 mouthpiece with plier marks all over it (thus explaining the braces that came loose from the bell). At any rate, I await the return of my Recording with eager anticipation! The problem it had was very evident, acid sweat. Everywhere the trumpet had been handled showed spotty lacquer. The horn is too pretty to leave in that condition.

MarkMin, I hope this helps in your decision!

__________________
JBKIRBY

1913 Conn Circus Bore Cornet
1967 Olds Ambassador Bb Trumpet
1972 Olds Pinto Bb Trumpet (Weird Horn!)
1973 Olds Recording Bb Trumpet
1965 Conn Director Bb Trumpet
1970 Conn 6D Double French Horn
Jean Baptiste El Cheapo-Sticko-Valve-O Pocket Trumpet