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A lady at the Canton flea market said my $2 booth mirror was fake brass, so I started checking with a magnet
She held it up and said real brass will not stick to a magnet, and mine grabbed right on. Now I carry a little fridge magnet in my pocket. What other quick tricks do you all use to spot fakes at a glance?
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spencerfisher4d ago
I picked up a $3 brass candlestick at a yard sale in Akron last summer and the seller swore it was solid brass from the 40s. Got it home and did the magnet test, stuck like glue, so I knew right away it was plated junk. What saved me was checking the bottom edge where it sits on the table, there was a tiny spot where the plating had worn through and you could see the gray metal underneath. Now I rub that spot with a little toothpaste on my thumb, real brass will shine up yellow again in seconds, plated stuff just shows the dull base metal and won't take a polish. I also tap it with a fingernail, brass has a dull thud while pot metal or steel rings a bit. Weighing it in your hand helps too, brass feels heavier than you expect for the size. Between the magnet, the rub test, and the weight, I haven't been fooled since.
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