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Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2023 4:45 pm
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.

Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:23 pm
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.

Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:39 pm
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.

Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2023 7:58 pm
by hornbuilder
$40???
😳

Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2023 9:33 pm
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?

Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2023 12:29 am
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?

Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2023 12:53 am
by JohnL
Previous thread on the 88HN:
viewtopic.php?t=17592

Re: Polishing a Nickle Silver bell Conn 88H

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2023 1:38 am
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.