Polish a Getzen or leave it tarnished?

rsatt

I have a '72-'75 Large Bore Eterna Severinsen model Getzen that has followed me around since about 1976. It is pretty heavily tarnished and I was about to give it a polish when I thought I might be devaluing it by removing yet another layer of the silver plate. (I kept it pretty shiny when I was a lad). So far the plating is intact.
I don't know how much this instrument is worth, and am not really looking to sell it, more to rekindle our relationship at the risk of my marriage I presume. I'll buy a decent mute as insurance against that.

I welcome opinions on the subject and any info as to possible value as well.

Cheers and glad to have found this forum!

kehaulani · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 5:05 pm Post subject:

You enhance its saleability the better it looks. Just don't use an abrasvie polish. You can probably get as good as any perspective my looking what wwbw.com offers.

Regarding its worth, cruise the internet sales sites for a perspective. Make sure you pay attention in both your searches and your for-sale advertising about the bore size.
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Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

Use this:

https://www.ferreestoolsinc.com/collections/laquer-cleaning/products/z25-tarnish-remover

Afterwards, use a polish like Tarnishield.

LittleRusty · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 5:11 pm Post subject:

Look up the aluminum foil and baking soda technique. There are many posts on TH that describe what to do. Enter site:trumpeterherald.com aluminum foil baking soda in your favorite search engine.

This method doesn't remove the silver, instead the sulphur molecules separate and reattach to the foil. (tarnish is silver sulfide)

One of the nation's leading silver experts warns against this method, but many on here, including myself, have used it with success and no visible harm.

omelet · Veteran Member Joined: 08 Nov 2007 Posts: 245

You say to polish because shiny sells, but he said he's not looking to sell it. If it's just for you, then shine it up and don't worry about it, it will be a very small amount of plating loss. I prefer to let them tarnish because I leave the horn out, though it does look nice all shined up, for some weird primal reason that supposedly has to do with how water sparkles.

rsatt · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 6:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the quick responses everyone. I think I'll give the aluminum foil method a shot this weekend. The horn does look like a million bucks when it's shiny.

bnbechtel · Regular Member Joined: 26 Oct 2021 Posts: 66 Location: US

Bethmike · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:04 pm Post subject:

My Kanstul 1001 is new, and I keep it in a bag made from anti tarnish cloth that my wife sewed for me. It just looks right when I play what I play on it.

My 1955 Olds Ambassador was stripped, polished and left as raw brass by Charlie Melk (in his Milwaukee shop). It has a great patina now. It just looks right when I play what I play on it.

I don't plan to sell either one of them, and they look just the way I want them to look. My philosophy. FWIW.
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kehaulani · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:24 pm Post subject:

deleted_user_687c31b · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

homebilly · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:55 pm Post subject:

bnbechtel · Regular Member Joined: 26 Oct 2021 Posts: 66 Location: US

Andy Cooper

rsatt

Thanks to all who responded. I tried the Aluminum and Baking Soda method and the results are pretty great. A bit of work with a polishing cloth after the soak and the horn looks like new. Replaced the valve springs and cleaned it out. It's been 43 years since I played it regularly but my fingers remember what to do and I can still blow a clear note. Now to buy a practice mute so I don't come home one day to find it has been repurposed as a planter in the garden.