The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

There is someone near me with a nice large brass horn. Unfortunately it has some pretty large cracks in it. If I were to polish the horn, would they be more visible? Has anyone had experience with large cracks in horns?

Thanks
Marrin

If you want the horn and don't mind how it looks permanently cracked... go for it. However, if you want the cracks gone, forget it, you are better off finding another one. You didn't say how big or wide the cracks are and I don't think there is any way to repair cracks in brass horns that will last and look good. All brass has the tendency to crack, but the cause of the cracking is the real issue... Usually cracks happen because of a problem with the alloy formula or in the "annealing" process (if that's the correct term), which makes it brittle. So, even if you could repair it, chances are it will crack again. Contact John Duffy on the forum and ask him if it can be repaired...

My advice is to put your time, effort & dollars into a nice horn. A cracked horn will always be a cracked horn. Whenever I don't follow my own advice, I always look at the damaged item that I got "cheaply" and hate what I paid for it. When I have the opportunity to buy something nice, even at a high price, I never think again about the money I spent on it, but instead concentrate on how much I enjoy the item.

There are plenty of nice brass horns around and they don't seem to be particularly expensive. It is not uncommon for sheet brass to crack over the years. Phonograph and kerosene lamp collectors have experienced this problem. JerryVan is right; get the best you can afford in the first place and you will be much happier in the long run.

Jim

Martin, I do not know exactly what horn you are looking at but if cylinder horns i have a couple of brass horns in the shop not attached to anything. Im close to you in Climax. one regular witches hat and one tulip in need of polishing ( ON second shelf, sorry old photos on phone. I can get better pix