Thanks to everyone who responded to my requests for advice on
lacquering brass parts of disc musical boxes.  Every Symphonion in
my collection has a pleasing golden glow to the brass parts that is
fairly consistent in colour and this is the effect I want to replicate.

To recap, I've had to remove all the old lacquer from a Symphonion
19-1/8" table model disc box.  The box has had a tough life and the
brass parts were corroded and discolored leaving no alternative but to
remove the finish to clean the brass.  This was easier said than done.
The literature I have consulted recommends methylated spirits or
acetone but both were ineffective in removing the coating and I had to
resort to wire wool and elbow grease.

Some people insist that Symphonion would have used a clear finish only
and it would have been applied by brush or dipped.  If this is the case
then the brass has tarnished to a golden colour evenly underneath its
protective coat over the last 100 years or so.  Other people are
convinced that a golden lacquer was used and have sent me the names of
products that emulate this effect.

I have recently used a UK based product called Horolacque that is
available in different colours.  I used the medium gold colour but it
is too strong straight from the bottle so I diluted it with Horolacque
clear to get the desired effect.  The lacquer is not available in spray
form and applying with a brush is very difficult to do as it dries
rapidly and leaves brush marks.  In the end I used a hobby air brush
that applied the lacquer evenly and this allowed a gradual build up of
colour.  The lacquer dissolves in meths so it's easy to correct any
mistakes.

This has been a fascinating topic for discussion.  I don't think we
know yet exactly the approach adopted by the German manufacturers but
I would welcome any more opinions or approaches to restoration to brass
components.

Mark Buckland