The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi All -

I want to take the bright shine off of some nickel plated parts so they don't look so new. What are people doing to achieve this on your own parts?

TIA,

Mark

A quick dip and rinse, in muriatic acid and then water, works. Be very careful and test first, and do not get that stuff on your skin!

Some of the telephone collectors have been known
to bury them in the ground for a few weeks or months
to make 'em look old.

That way, when their antique phone is for sale at
the next show, they can fetch top $$$$$$$ for
their "all original" new/old phone.

I've also heard that tea-staining and then baking
newly made paperwork is a way to provide "genuine
original" documentation to add value to what ever it
is they are passing off as old when it's actually new.