How often are "brass brushes" used in the early copper world?

Longacre

I was looking at an advertisement for early coppers, and there was a section offering supplies. Here was the listing"

"Brass brush for use in brightening up a dull, slightly rough old copper. To be used only on ugly ones. Damaging to a "choice" copper. $XX."



How often are these brushes used? What would be the point of brightening up an "ugly, rough old copper", because you will just make it a "bright, ugly, rough, old copper"? Is this brush abrasive or how does it work exactly?

braddick

Is brass softer than copper?

Cladiator

<< <i>Is brass softer than copper? >>

I wouldn't think so.

braddick

Me neither. Makes me wonder how that could benefit early copper?

I know camel hair brushes are used (still) today with great success, just never heard of brass.

Cladiator

Kind of sounds like a way to "hand whizz" something.

AmericanCopper

These were in common use until the late 50's when attitudes about "Bright and Shiney is Best" way of collecting began to change and I haven't heard of anyone using them since the 60's. (serious coin collectors, that is). I suspect that many examples on eBay and other venues were cleaned from the 1920's to the 1950's with brass brushes. I myself purchased one in the 50's, and I can tell you from experience that there is just no way the sheen they apply would ever be acceptable today.

RichieURich

I think the only purpose is when you have a coin with so much crud on it that it is unattributable until some of the crud is removed.