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Howdy folks,

In preparation for Memorial Day, I was planning to polish up my 1928 Buescher 4 valver.

My question is: what to do for the gold washed bell? I don't want to risk wearing the gold off, as I know that it is very thin plating. I am reluctant to use the Hagerty's (don't know the effect of silver polish on gold), but Windex doesn't seem to get the dark spots off.

Any thoughts on safely cleaning the gold bell?

Thanks! Happy Memorial Day!!!

Isn't there such a thing as gold polish?

If the gold is genuine, you don’t have to polish. Cleaning will do. I soak snips of a soft cloth in valve oil .

Klaus

To clean the finish on my old satin-silver H.N.White KING mellophone in C (with gold wash inside bell), I used King Midas metal polish. It worked fast and didn't scratch. Nice product if you can stand the ammonia smell. The label says it's for all metals. YMMV

I use 3M Tarni-Shield on my silver & gold horns.

3M's Tarni-Shield™ Silver Polish and Twinkle® Silver Polish are the least abrasive of the commercial polishes and Tarni-Shield™ has a more effective tarnish barrier than Twinkle.

I've been happy with the results for horns that one uses, not just display,