Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

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nmittwer
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Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by nmittwer »

I traded a medium bore Eastman horn for a Conn 88H with what I'm told to be a Nickle Silver bell. It has a lot of tarnish and scratches and what not and I'm trying to see if there is any way I can get it to look better on my own before I take it to someone to look at it. I've already tried some metal polish compounds on it to absolutely no effect.
tbonesullivan
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Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by tbonesullivan »

Are you sure it's a Nickel Silver bell? Is it Conn 88h marked? I know they make a Sterling Silver bell, but I haven't heard of a Nickel Silver bell.

Are you sure it is not oxidized under a coating of lacquer? That would explain why polish is not really working.
David S. - daveyboy37 from TTF
Bach 39, LT36B, 42BOF & 42T, King 2103 / 3b, Kanstul 1570CR & 1588CR, Yamaha YBL-612 RII, YBL-822G & YBL-830, Sterling 1056GHS Euphonium,
Livingston Symphony Orchestra NJ - Trombone
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Ozzlefinch
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Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by Ozzlefinch »

If the horn is as nasty as you say, then I highly recommend taking it to a shop for a professional cleaning . Trying to remove decades of tarnish at home could irreparably damage the finish. A professional cleaning isn't as expensive as you might think. My local shop only charges $40 for a full dip and is worth every penny.
hornbuilder
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Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by hornbuilder »

$40???
😳
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
hornbuilder
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Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by hornbuilder »

Conn did make nickel belled, Conn 88HN, for a short period.

Is the bell the same color as the tuning slide receiver tube and ferrule?
Matthew Walker
Owner/Craftsman, M&W Custom Trombones, LLC, Jackson, Wisconsin.
Former Bass Trombonist, Opera Australia, 1991-2006
Posaunus
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Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by Posaunus »

hornbuilder wrote: Thu Sep 14, 2023 9:33 pm Conn did make nickel belled, Conn 88HN, for a short period.
I had never heard of that.

Perhaps due to their success with the Connstellation 48H?
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JohnL
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Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by JohnL »

Previous thread on the 88HN:
viewtopic.php?t=17592
brassmedic
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Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Post by brassmedic »

Posaunus wrote: Fri Sep 15, 2023 12:29 am
hornbuilder wrote: Thu Sep 14, 2023 9:33 pm Conn did make nickel belled, Conn 88HN, for a short period.
I had never heard of that.

Perhaps due to their success with the Connstellation 48H?
48H is not a nickel silver bell. It is a brass bell with copper plating and heavy nickel plating on top of that.
Brad Close Brass Instruments - brassmedic.com
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