Letter 24130

Need a silver tarnish preventer  

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I inherited a beautiful silver chandelier from my mother. It originally hung in the ballroom of an old hotel in Knoxville, Tenn. The hotel was built in the early 1920's, so I'm assuming that the chandelier dates from then also.

The hotel's owner told my father that it was made in Germany. I was recently told by a man who restores antique light fixtures that it is probably sterling silver over a brass base. Does that make sense?

Anyway, this chandelier hung in my parent's house for 40 years and Mom always polished it once a year, in October so it would look good for the holidays. It always stayed beautiful until the next August or so, when it would start to look a bit dull, and by Oct. it definitely needed polishing.

My parents lived in Tenn. Now I have the chandelier hanging in my home in Florida and I can't keep it shiny for more than a couple of weeks at a time! I've used Wright's Silver Cream [link is to product info at Amazon] and I've used those silver cloths that are impregnated with polish.

Both do a fine job of shining, but the results just don't last. Could it be the beach air or the water that I use to rinse off the polish? I am at my wits' end. If I can't solve this problem, I will have to sell my beautiful chandelier because I can't spend all my time polishing it.(It's huge!) Please Help Me!

Anna B Michael
- Daytona Beach, Florida

Anna,

Here is a solution for your problem. Polish or have someone polish your chandelier. Once it is shined up, have it thoroughly degreased and shot with clear lacquer. It will then have a beautiful shine and be maintenance free. In several years, you might have to have the process done again, but it beats polishing 2 or 3 times a month! Besides, I am sure that you don't want to sell your keepsake. I hope this information helps.

Sincerely,

Tom Green
- Elkhart, Indiana

Hello,

Polish the silver, then wipe it down with lacquer thinner [link is to product info at Amazon] or Acetone [link is to product info at Rockler] to clean off the polishing compound. Coat the silver with a good exterior lacquer.

Jake Koch G. J. Nikolas & Co., Inc. Bellwood, Illinois