I have an old Show Globe that I want to sell on ebay. I had an identical one that I sold last year but I got less than I wanted. The problem is that the metal parts are very dirty and the patina makes it look as if the brass plating has worn off. I took it apart and washed the metal parts with soap and water, and that helped a little. Still, the patina makes the brass plating all but invisible.
I took a few small pieces (the acorn fasteners that hold the rods to the bottom piece) and gently used some Wright's Copper Cream on them with a soft tooth brush and a sponge. This brought out some of the plating without completely removing the patina. I have attached some pictures. One is the complete Show Globe as pictured on wikipedia. The others are some of the pieces as they stand now, including the polished acorn fasteners.
I have had no luck identifying the maker and year of this item. The only ones I've seen on the internet are in Pharmacy Museums and when I contacted those places they couldn't help me with the details. The only one besides mine that I've seen on ebay was painted gold, and the seller didn't know any details, either.
If you're still reading, I have 2 questions:
- Can you identify this item (maker, year, country)?
- Should I continue to clean it with the Copper Cream in order to make it more saleable or will that decrease its value?
http://imageshack.us/g/805/redhangingshowglobe2.jpg/
Thanks for any input.