Brass coatings

Alan Hawk <nmhm [at] email__afip__osd__mil> writes

>I recently got a researcher request from a collector of microscopes in
>New Zealand.  He has been cleaning and restoring his collection of early
>19th century brass microscopes and has had to remove the lacquer.  He
>wants to restore the finish on these brass instruments and is trying to
>recreate the original finish.

I reply only because I have not seen this aspect of the topic addressed,
and not because I have any expertise.  In my dustbin of trivia I recall,
from many years, that a colleague involved in refurbishing some antique
brass scientific instruments was advised of the absolute necessity of
preserving original contours--especially of not rounding off sharp
corners--in polishing.  To that end a variety of "dubs" and "buffs" are
made up.  I recall that for some purposes she found acrylic pieces (one
avoids saying "Plexiglas") to be ideal, adhering to them either rouge
cloth or leather pieces charged with rouge.

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:50
                 Distributed: Friday, December 30, 1994
                        Message Id: cdl-8-50-002
                                  ***