New Haven Tambour with Copper Bezel and Face

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:24 pm     Post subject: New Haven Tambour with Copper Bezel and Face

I recently purchased a New Haven 1923 Toledo Tambour to restore. I found that it has a copper bezel ring and copper numbers on the face. Has anybody ran across copper being used on clocks in this manor. Most that I have seen have been brass. Is this something unique?

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:32 am     Post subject:

I think you will find that they are brass. Sometimes the quality of brass differs from maker to maker. Try an SOS pad on a small section and it will probably shine with some elbow grease. The numbers are probably brass also. Good Luck!!

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:44 pm     Post subject:

Thanks for the rely although after polishing the face and ring, it is definely not yellow brass. The pull on the ring, (finger tab) is yellow brass, but the ring and number faces are a red'er alloy. I polished a copper pipe fitting that I had laying around and although not exact it looks like the ring and numbers are closer to the copper. May be bronze, (copper & tin). Also the face had very high content of green residue on the face and ring like copper tends to exibit when exposed to the elements.

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:43 pm     Post subject:

This is unusual. Since copper tarnishes so fast, perhaps you should polish it and immediately spray it with laquer. I have done that with copper pots and it works well.

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:04 am     Post subject:

Hey man whats happenin i got the sma e new haven 1923 toledo as you man but my dosn't have a copper bezel or numbers all brass. mines in pretty bad shape but i was wondering how much you bought yours for.