So my hands are green

[farore]

I play an Olds Special trombone (it's around 57 years old) in pep band and it looks like it's been through a lot of marching band, to say the least. His name is "Beautiful Joe" and if you've read the book you know what I mean. (tenor trombone, straight)

Here's the problem: I don't know what this trombone is made of. There is a hefty amount of lacquer missing (about 40% is left) so it's hard to tell what the material is but from what I can tell it's a very dark trombone. It almost looks like it has a rose brass bell. However, while I was playing it in pep band, I looked at my hand that I hold my trombone in, only to discover that it is green. Hm. How much copper is in this trombone that can actually turn my hand green?

Also, inside of the bell, my trombone is purple/blue/orange due to some of the corrosion or something. I used to use some brass polish to get some of the stuff off but I've heard that you can use Pledge on brass instruments...?

What kind of brass polish (or whatever) is cheap and good to use?

[mthsbandrocks]

I don't know how to fix your problems, but I do know what caused my trumpet to do the same thing.
I took my trumpet in to the shop because it does the same thing. They told me it was because of the acid in my sweat, it wears away the lacquer. They told me to use clear nail polish every once in a while to substitute as lacquer. Since obviously you don't want to relacquer your horn. I hope this helped maybe a little. You might just want to bring it in to a local shop and ask for help.

[jazztastic]

Olds trombones unite!
I used to use a September 1959 Olds, he's retired to my bed chamber right now, old faithful... but yeah, I had the same problem too. Wear gloves? Careful with cleaners/chemicals on brass instruments, and I've found that being out in the sun with that thing (I'm from AZ, where's there's plenty ) makes the finish, or whatever is left of it, darker.
I got a funky new case for mine a couple of years ago... now whenever I feel nostalgic and pull it out, it smells like cherry cough syrup. Just sayin'.

[altoclarinets]

I don't know so much about trombones, but I do have a ring that has had a large amount of its finish worn off and turns my hand green when I wear it... however, it is mostly nickel. Perhaps this could be a source of your problem... idk. Re. using pledge as polish... probably not the best idea you've had all year. Remember the lesson of the cleaning lady who put bleach in the toilet (pee contains ammonia): You never know what kind of residues there may be that could react and have undesirable results.