Expert: Kenton Scott - 5/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have my father's silver coronet that he used in an Army Band in the later '20's It has some decorative design with "Marceau" engraved in the front. The mouthpiece has Vincent Bach Corp., New York engraved on it. Can you please tell me anything about this instrument?

ANSWER: Marceau was a trade name employed by Sears Robuck Co. for instruments imported from Czechoslovakia.



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QUESTION: Would you consider this instrument rare and worth restoring? I presume that this is only silver plate or am I wrong? It seems complicated to try to remove the tarnish. Any suggestions on how to do it?

Answer
It is probably  silverplate or possibly what is called German silver, which is really a type of brass.  There are quite a few of them out there.  To remove the tarnish, you can use such products such as Tarnx, followed by a metal cleaner such as Blue Magic followed by a good silver polish to clean it up.  Use strips of cloth or ragging to get around the tubes.