Some Ancient Brass

Here's an original 54. I know, it needs a dusting and a polishing. It's a gorgeous engine that is probably pushing 100 years old.

I have to dust about 300 to 400 trains and pry some goo off my floor.

Dirt aside, what's interesting about this brass is that you can see some of the copper peaking out in the lower left of the corner. No, it isn't blantantly copper but you can see the coloring moving more towards copper and less towards brass.

This engine is a pet project of mine, I am going to get it running. Any ideas on the best way to shine it up without destroying the patina in the long run?

Here is something a little newer:


It's a prototype B&O #5. You can see quite a few of the weld spots on it. Even with a little dirt and a pantload of fingerprints, the brass looks really nice.

Next up: some Nickle Plated gear!

My point in these little blurbs is that natural colors or the colors of nature are frequently just as exquisite as the variety of colors that find their way onto old toys and specifically toy trains. Metallurgy is a science that works with nature to create some stunning effects, wouldn't you say?

M