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Linda R. (NC)
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by Linda R. (NC) » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:38 pm
I have been going through some of my Mom's things and found silverware that was my Grandmother's. It has been wrapped in tissue/paper towels and is coated with a white powder. Any idea what that would be and why? Cornstarch maybe?
It is 1847 Rogers Brothers, and I suspect it is just silver plated and not sterling. It's clean and not at all tarnished.
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Cynthia Wenslow
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by Cynthia Wenslow » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:00 pm
Never heard of this, Linda, but anything that coated it completely would protect it from tarnishing, so....
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Linda R. (NC)
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by Linda R. (NC) » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:10 pm
It wasn't completely covered, more like sprinkled with it. I repacked it and left the powder in there. When you go through a house where folks have collected stuff for 50 years, plus what they there came with, you come across all kinds of interesting things.
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Jeff Grossman
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by Jeff Grossman » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:27 pm
It could be "plate powder" or "rouge powder", a component of old-fashioned silver polishes.
If you're in the mood for an experiment, try mixing some with water to make a paste and use it to polish something that is tarnished... does it still work?
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Linda R. (NC)
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by Linda R. (NC) » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:59 pm
Jeff, that's a good idea. Unfortunately, there isn't enough powder for that. I did read that a paste made with cornstarch and water will clean silver so that might be what it is.
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Larry Greenly
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by Larry Greenly » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:43 pm
So will baking soda and water.
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